Key Points

In this program, Karl Sims described how he puts "humans in the loop" by allowing them to make decisions on the basis of aesthetics.He talked about several interactive projects

He then went on to describe Galapagos, a project which again used human aesthetic judgements to three dimensional dynamic models Karl then went on to discuss his project based around behavioural mutation, called Behavioural Morphology, wherein creatures were selected for their ability to swim, jump, walk, follow, etc. He noticed development from simple to more complex modes of locomotion as the creatures faught to survive.

This work culminated in competitions between two organisms competing to win possession of an object. The creatures began to exhibit learning and strategic behaviour to acheive their aim.

Demetri Terzopoulos showed us his research into creating computational models of animals through intelligent behaviors. His concerns were with realism rather than with evolution.

He demonstrated artifiial marine environments where his artifical fish would learn locomotion and exhibited global behaviors such as swarming. He could then use the fish as virtual laboratory rats. The same technique could then be used to generate bio-mechanical models of extinct creatures and study how they moved and behaved.

For example, Dr. Terzopolus taught his creatures to move thorugh water, and to later evolve to move on land using similar processes they had acquired in the water.