Developed For: Robots and Us, Traveling Exhibit for Science Museum Exhibit Collaborative (SMEC)

Learning Objective: Complexity can emerge from simples rules, even just three of them!

Developed By: Programming - Teresa Hung; Early Prototyping on Museum Floor - Sara Luecke, Teresa Hung; Graphics - Joshua Seaver. Adapted from the Game of Life Java applet written by Alan Hensel.

Key Features: Visitors create a “start pattern” by touching squares on a touch screen to turn them on or off (filled-in or empty). After pressing the “run” button, the visitor’s pattern is sent to another larger screen that displays a large grid of squares that blink on and off according to the three simples rules of “life” that are applied to each square in the life universe (million x million grid).

R & D Challenges: Learn the java programming language. Convert a web applet to a museum kiosk (application). Add new user interface screen--touch screen with buttons and editable grid.