Introduction

The applet is fully interactive, allowing you to apply selection based on organisms visual characteristics using a variety of implements.

Selection may also applied automatically. Currently the built in selection methods are for size and shape only.

The cellular automata uses a strict von-Neumann neighbourhood and is based on an innovative, multi-layered design.

The whole architecture is designed to be implemented on massively parallel hardware.
Central to HAL's design is the use of fine-grained massive parallelism which, on appropriate hardware, should allow maximum possible performance to be reached.

Note: if you're playing with wiping out organisms manually you'll probably want to have the 'No selection at all' checkbox ticked - this causes all cells to be born pregnant and removes some constraints which abort malformed offspring.

Interactive controls

• Initial configuration - controls how the automata starts up;
• Tool selection - controls which type of tool to use to manipulate the environment;
• Tool behaviour - controls how the tool in use is applied;
• Display - controls which aspect of the automata is presented:
  • Cell types - an essentially static display of each cell. This redraws rapidly;
  • Development - shows the passage of developmental date through each cell;
  • Calculation - shows the calculation layer. This layer supports universal computation;
• Resolution - controls how many cells are displayed, and their size;
• Life span - allows the maximum life span of each cell, in generations to be controlled;
• Show frames - configures how frequently the display is updated;
• Mutation rate - allows the level of 'background radiation' in the environment to be controlled;
• 'No selection at all' - a checkbox which turns off all the computer-driven selection methods;
• Selection for area - allows computer-driven selection based on area coverage criteria;
• Selection for shape - allows selection based on the number of corners of each cell;
• Selection for size - allows selection based on cell's maximum and minimum spatial extent;
• Selection for calc 1 - allows bits in the first calculation layer to be set or cleared;
• Restart - restarts the automata with the current initial configuration;
• Clear - completely clears the grid - including any walls that may be present;
• Step - allows a paused automata to be single-stepped;
• Pause - allows the automata to be stopped and started;