Breath of Complexity
"The fact that mathematics does such a good job of describing the Universe is a mystery that we don't understand. And a debt that we will probably never be able to repay."- Lord Kelvin, 1897 |
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| Topics Touched Today : what is complexity? technologies three methods of generating complexity: iteration, combination, feedback |
"For every complex problem there is a simple solution that is wrong." - G. B. Shaw |
| Take a deep breath... A simple thing right? |
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...not really. |
No need to force complexity, it arises naturally
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| Cheap Computation New computational powers allow us to explore new territories... |
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Illustration from ExplodingDog.com - thanks!
| Flash | Proce55ing | |
| Vector based Fast drawing Ubiquity of Flash Player |
Graphic / Multimedia focus Deployable to web Sketch book, rapid development Huge development communities = support Fun! |
Bitmap based Native 3D support Fast computing Java extensible Free! |
Single simple path wandering object
Instantiated several thousand times
Resulting structure is inherently complex
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Binary Ages (proce55ing)
The sticky wandering particle
Hints of emergence...
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 Chroma DLA(swf) (Source: FLA) |
Project with Reas, Hodgin, Ngan
Algorithmic construction
Plot the intersections of 100 slowly moving circles over time ...
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Intersection Momentary (proce55ing)
Self-similar parts
Operating on same simple rule
Resulting behavior is emergent
Parts unaware of the whole
Sea Thing (swf) (Source: FLA)
Deterministic chaos
Sensitive to initial conditions
Strange attractor, five thousand iterations
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Drop particles into a transformation field
Expose the travel histories of hundreds of thousands of particles over time
Strange attractor, one million iterations
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 Henon Phase Space Deep (proce55ing) |
Iterated function system in the complex plane
Vast areas remain unexplored
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Alternate rendering of the Mandelbrot
Invented in just the last few years
Strangest of all attractors
One hundred billion iterations (rendered over the course of six days)
Simple rule, repeated endlessly
Growth patterns resemble crystals, cities,
Substrate (proce55ing)
I count it as complex because of the resulting magnitude of such simple systems...
16 basic elements
Arranged every possible way (as defined by a few simple rules)
Reveals a universe of 10,816 unique permutations
Nine Block
sorted (swf) (Source: FLA)
shuffled (swf) (Source: FLA)
Two basic elements (on or off block)
Arranged in 5x5 grid with lateral symmetry
Produces 32,768 unique invaders!
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Invader Fractal (swf) (Source: FLA)
Simple form of feedback
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No feedback
On / Off switches tied together randomly
If odd number of connected switches are On, switch On
If even number of connected switches are On, switch Off
(swf) (Source: FLA)
Feedback, reentrant pathways
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 Binary Network Sound Machine (swf) (Source: FLA) |
On/Off cells arranged in rows
State of cell determined by previous state + states of neighbors
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Growth not restricted to one dimensional space
Values of cells not restricted to binary
Self-similar objects, allowed to combine at will
Results in both 'good' and 'bad' configurations
Left long enough, with fitness criteria applied, the best possible legged swimmer will emerge
Pursuit attractor
Hundreds of particles, all in pursuit of one another
Sand Traveler (proce55ing)
Self-similar objects, allowed to combine at will
Results in both 'good' and 'bad' configurations
Left long enough, with fitness criteria applied, the best possible legged swimmer will emerge
Legged Creatures (swf) (Source: FLA)
Complex structural forms from two simple elements
Add motors and sensors to see hints of life emerge...
Spring Mass System (swf) (Source: FLA)
"I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the brain unfolding to success... Such emotions make a man forget food, sleep, friends, love, everything." - Nikola Tesla |
The secret to success with programming: Do Not Give Up
Best way to master: Code Something Everyday
Web Sites
| Levitated Daily Source http://www.levitated.net/daily/ Jared Tarbell |
Complexification | Gallery of Computation http://www.complexification.net/gallery/ Jared Tarbell |
Books
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Computers, Pattern, Chaos, and Beauty Clifford A. Pickover |
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ActionScript: The Definitive Guide 2nd Edition Colin Moock ActionScript 2.0 Essentials Colin Moock |
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The Fractal Geometry of Nature Benoit Mandelbrot |
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Flash Math Creativity Tarbell, et al |
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Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid Douglas Hofstadter |
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New Masters of Flash Vol. 3 Tarbell, et al |
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The Web of Life Fritjof Capra |
levitated.net/notes/BOC/