IMPROVED INTERFACE FOR INTERACTIVE EVOLUTIONARY DESIGN
Date
2001-02-01
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Abstract
This project is in the area of evolutionary design. Specifically it
deals with providing a user-friendly interface to the EVOLVICA software system
(Jacob 2000) that is used to evolve biomorph sketch figures and L-system
(Lindenmayer system) flowers. In addition to creating an easier to use
interface, I also experimented with the visualization of the genotype and
phenoptype of the biomorphs and L-systems. By the end of the project, I had
developed several GUI widgets in Mathematica (Wolfram 1996), some of which
include data input forms, a point-and-click expression browser, and a graphical
selection widget. In addition I made the phenotype visualization more dynamic
and interactive by integrating a Mathematica add-on called Live Graphics 3-D
(Kraus 2000). In the case of the biomorph system, I added 3-D phenotypic
visualization to make the biomorphs appear more like real world objects. I
also improved genotype visualization by representing the genotype in forms that
are easier to read and recognize, such as standard L-system notations, and
tree-based forms. For biomorph genomes, I presented the genome in a tabular
form to make comparisons between genomes easier. The resulting systems have
improved the ability of the user to observe the changes to the genotype and
phenotype that take place through the evolution of L-system flowers and
biomorphs.
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Computer Science