Module_Palline Vive

Emergent behaviour is complex behaviour that emerges from simple interactions. I believe that for the future, the construction of such emergent structures is an essential skill for a designer. As I see it: in the future, each product will be able to communicate with other products. Products will respond to the user, to the environment, but also to each other. This way, highly complex and intelligent environments can be constructed.

In this project, Emar Vegt and me studied how to design for emergent structures. We created a software model to explore how behaviour is built up. First, we introduced an actor into the environment. Then a second actor. Then we gave both actors some rules on what to do when they encounter each other. In the next stage we implemented a 'static world'. We then added rules for the two actors on how to behave with regard to the world. Finally, we made the world dynamic. The actors were influenced by the environment, but they could also alter it. This led to an interactive, complex structure of behaviour.

In more detail the system we developed consists of two virtual species; red palline and yellow palline. Upon birth, they are given a random size. During their life they will seek out pallines of other species and eat them. However, they will only eat smaller pallines. If they encounter a larger palline, they will flee. If a larger palline eats a smaller palline he will gain some of his attributes. He will grow a little and his colour will become a mixture of both pallines.