Newsgroups: comp.ai.alife
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!rochester!udel!gatech!swrinde!emory!mind.org!runic!thantos
From: thantos@runic.mind.org (Alexander Williams)
Subject: Re: Tierra Working Group Report
Organization: Runic Writings UUCP Link: Convoco Hasturam
Message-ID: <D8Dp63.2uK@runic.mind.org>
References: <3ojf3i$235@gap.cco.caltech.edu> <3odk4d$sb2@gap.cco.caltech.edu> <3oe6s8$4u5@acmey.gatech.edu> <D89zE4.J85@freenet.carleton.ca>
Date: Wed, 10 May 1995 20:05:58 GMT
Lines: 33

In an arcane scroll, Alexander Williams quotes the holy scripturist
Tim Sallans, replying to the mystic words as written, saying:

>However, I would be concerned about an individual on a particular
>platform redesigning their local Tierra environment to provide an interactive
>shell with the outside internet world.  What if someone modified
>the reaper to select for other than error count or complexity of
>operations.  What if they rewrote the Tierra op codes to allow 
>real world interfacing and modified the reaper to reward successful
>interaction.  Then the massive diversity of the connected system would
>serve to feed the creativity of an individual virus maker, feeding them
>to the system at large.

   Though this has nothing to do with net.Tierra.  The changed op
codes would make interbreeding with another population impossible,
completely different genetic assumptions, like trying to crossbreed
humans on Earth with Venusian cave-worms...
   On the other hand, it /is/ a perfectly viable project right now,
today.  The Tierra system allows a complete redefinition of as many
instruction sets and architectures as you feel bored enough to write
up, thus my fantasy involving modeling a running Windows environ. 
   The problem comes in with the first time you try to define an
algorithmic non-template-based Assembley instruction set for Tierra
to evolve organisms in.  Its a monumental buttock pain.  Then you
have to model RAM structure access, interrupts, the whole schlemiel.
Frankly, I'd rather work within the assumptions of the basic system,
because trying to write a whole different system from assumptive
scratch gives me fear-reactions...
-- 
thantos@runic.mind.org (Alexander Williams)     | PGP 2.6 key avail
  Should we shed our mental pants and compare   | DF 22 16 CE CA 7F
  the size of our consciousnesses?              | 98 47 13 EE 8E EC
      Jan Sand to Marvin Minsky                 | 9C 2D 9B 9B
