the Responsive Field of the Lattice Archipelogics.

[description]
A.Boxes represent the value stored in the memory of each cell. The orientation of the box shows the direction that will assign to agents passing through it, the gray tones the amount of acceleration.
B.The Blue cubes display the position of the sensors distributed through the space (with simulated reactions, in this case).
C.The smaller black boxes correspond to the agents.

[engine]
The algorithm for the installation originates from a model shared by processes as diverse as the formation of anthills, cities, river basins, or even learning: a morphogenetic process that is based in positive reinforcement or amplification and in equilibrium seeking feedback loops.
The means by which these feedbacks mutually interact could be compared to the way sedimentation (positive feedback) and erosion (negative feedback) reciprocally affect each other in some geological formation processes.

[components]
Besides the sensors, there are two other basic components of the system:
1. The agents, which are the active constituents of the software. They are basic 'activity tropistic' automata, which, as moths to light, react to the activity levels reported by the sensors, as well as to the information stored on the cells.
2. The cells, which function as the memory of the lattice space, which the agents relentlessly imprint with their movement patterns. In return, the cells affect the movement of the agents passing through them, modifying their trajectories according to the values left on them by other agents in the past.
[sentient space]
Through such mechanism the Lattice acquires the ability to learn: disturbances produced in the Responsive Field may survive and persist, canalising agents through them, and thus be reiteratively reinforced and amplified by their constant flow. Others will be slowly eroded and forgotten. The device will be able to 'learn' inhabitation patterns as a set of state transitions, attractor basins and gradients on the field.

There are two essential moods of the Responsive Field: one of engagement in interaction, when there is some activity sensed, which will force the agents to react and record the occupation events on the cells. Another one functionally analogous to the state of dreaming, when there is no input from the sensors, and in which the agents will wonder through the lattice following the traces of previous events, amplifying some patterns, letting others disappear.

[>> responsive fields of lattice archipelogics project page at smart studio]

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