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This video gives a visual impact of the artwork that appears in the book. And also implifies the work published in the following artical.
“In the interactive real-time environment “A-Volve” visitors interact with virtual creatures in the space of a water filled glass pool.These virtual creatures are products of evolutionary rules and influenced by human creation and decision.
Designing any kind of shape and profile with their finger on a touch screen, visitors will “bear” virtual three dimensional creatures, that are automatically “alive” and swim in the real water of the pool.The movement and behavior of the virtual creature is decided by its form, how the viewer was designing it on the touch screen.
Behavior in space is, so to speak, an expression of form. Form is an expression of adaptation to the environment.
Form and movement are closely connected, the creatures capability to move will decide its fitness in the pool.The fittest creature will survive longest and will be able to mate and reproduce. The creatures will compete by trying to get as much energy as possible. Thus predator creatures will hunt for prey creatures, trying to kill them.
The creatures also interact with the visitors, by reacting to their hands movement in the water. If a visitor tries to catch a creature, it will try to flee or stays still, if it gets caught. Thus the visitor is able to influence the evolution by for example protection preys against predators.If two strong creatures meet, they can create an offspring and a new creature can be born. It carries the genetic code of its parents. Mutation and cross-over provides a nature-like reproduction mechanism, that follows the genetic rules of Mendel. This newly born offspring will now also react and live in the pool, interacting with visitors and other creatures.”[1]
This artical was published in 1997 Complexity Journam, New York: Wiley, Vol 2, No. 6.pp.13-21
Abstract:
“A-Volve” is an interactive environment where visitors can interact in real time with artificial creatures living in the space of a water-filled glass pool. The virtual creatures are created by the visitors of the installation but can also evolve by themselves. Combat, fitness, energy level, speed of movement, reproduction and life span decide the fate of the creatures in the virtual pool. They can transmit their genetic code from generation to generation to create an evolveable environment. “A-Volve” is an artistic interactive computer installation that implements artificial life, genetics, evolution as well as unencumbered interaction within virtual space. It has been exhibited worldwide and has received several awards for Interactive Art and Multimedia. Its intention is to allow visitors to interact with an artificial world of evolving creatures, as part of Sommerer and Mignonneau’s artistic concept of “Art as a Living System,” where human design and interaction decisions are linked to the evolution and development of non-linear, multi-layered virtual worlds.[2]
Source:
[1] http://www.interface.ufg.ac.at/christa-laurent/WORKS/CONCEPTS/A-VolveConcept.html