<algorithm, application> (a-life) The study of synthetic
systems which behave like natural living systems in some way.
Artificial Life complements the traditional biological
sciences concerned with the analysis of living organisms by
attempting to create lifelike behaviours within computers and
other artificial media. Artificial Life can contribute to
theoretical biology by modelling forms of life other than
those which exist in nature. It has applications in
environmental and financial modelling and network
communications.
There are some interesting implementations of artificial life
using strangely shaped blocks. A video, probably by the
company Artificial Creatures who build insect-like robots in
Cambridge, MA (USA), has several mechanical implementations of
artificial life forms.
See also evolutionary computing, Life.
[Christopher G. Langton (Ed.), "Artificial Life", Proceedings
Volume VI, Santa Fe Institute Studies in the Sciences of
Complexity. Addison-Wesley, 1989].
