Gooney Birds
Illustrate various components of the theory of Natural Selection by simulating the selective pressure acting on a population by a predator.
Objective: simulate elements of the process of natural selection
General design considerations
The simulation should:
- accurately portray the sequence of events in natural selection
- engage the user throughout the process (requiring user action or input)
- allow for multiple users to interact while observing (suitable for groups or individuals)
- be automated (i.e., resetting after each session)
Objects/Behaviours
- Notecard - Instructions
- Object - Welcome/Directions sign; contains Start Button
- Control prim (rezzer, dialog master)
- Return to hunt button( ? - Green lever from Flash Animation)
- Help button ( ? - Yellow lever from Flash Animation)
- Ground cover - environmental setting, serves as background
- Screen - layer of foliage (occludes setting temporarily)
- Unique Bug
Flow
Start
User approaches installation, is encouraged to read instructions
User finds and presses "Start" button
Predation Rounds (3)
"Screen" is lifted, vanished, moved back, to reveal background with bugs
User clicks on [amount] bugs (the first bug they see!)
On click, each bug is removed from setting; color variable is recorded
After [amount] bugs have been "captured", the screen is returned to orig position, masking the bugs/foliage
Controller (performs census)
- removes [amount] bugs randomly (keeps total number down, simulates random selection)
- rezzes [amount] bugs as offspring,
- assigns colors that are variations of parents' color
- assigns position of bugs on background
- raises screen (repeat predation)
Evaluation
After three rounds of predation, screen is lifted revealing no-touch bugs. Remaining bugs are assigned new "evaluation display" locations counter to a recreation of the original population (or to the "captured" bugs)
After simulation (reset simulation for next users, avoid delay at start)
Controller creates list of randomized colors
Controller rezzes an array of [amount] bugs with
- color assigned from randomized list
- random placement
- random rotation
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