Image Processing Reference
In-Depth Information
13.7
Conclusion
This chapter discussed the integration of CA systems into creative projects and
presented some of the design decisions that were made to facilitate effective in-
teractivity in standalone and collaborative deployments. Although CA systems are
conceptually simple, relatively minor modifications in rule sets can facilitate a wide
range of variation. Many creative projects that utilize CA systems tend to either di-
rectly represent the CA system or offer a direct mapping of its inputs to an audio
or visual output. This chapter instead explored two art projects that use CA as a
creative mechanism that generates output which does
not
resemble the CA input.
In particular, these two projects enable interaction and improvisation with CA and
other generative systems. Fluid Automata extends CA into a more complex system
in order to function as an interactive fluid simulation; and Annular Genealogy uses
the Fluid Automata system as one input among other iterative feedback processes to
generate a dynamic creative experience. By describing these two projects in some
detail, we offer an example of how media arts projects may effectively extend CA
concepts. The use of generative systems continues to intrigue artists, and new cre-
ative projects will incorporate CA system in novel and unexpected ways.
Appendix: Cell-State Transition Algorithm
The following code listing describes the fluid simulation, based on CA, as described
in section 3.1. The
cell
parameter refers to a cell positioned in the CA grid (
pos
),
with a particular state described by a vector (
vec
) that has a particular magnitude
(
mag
) and orientation (
ang
). The
grid
has a pixel width of
width
and pixel height
of
height
, and a particular number of columns (
cols
)androws(
rows
), and con-
tains a double array of cells. The variable
m
refers to the ratio that splits a cell
vector into forward and “orthogonal” streams, the momentum parameter, or
r
1
.The
variable
refers to the angularity parameter. Other optional variables, such as the
directionality and viscosity parameters, have been excluded for clarity. Note that
the N
EIGHBOR
C
ELLS
procedure retrieving a cell's neighbors also includes the cell
itself. Finally, the I
NTERSECT
R
ECTS
procedure (referred to but not shown) returns
a value between 0
φ
.
0and1
.
0 indicating the amount that two rectangles of the same
size overlap.
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