Do you like my Os? They're new; I like them
quite a bit. Let me tell you about them.

(I'm going to assume you know little to nothing
about computer stuff. Forgive me if I offend.)

They're grown - via a genetic algorithm. Every
time I write a piece of email, I grow a batch of
Os to go in the left gutter (as you say.)

I haven't given them explicit instructions on
how to draw themselves. I've merely specified
the criteria I'd like for them to achieve.
Then I generate a random population (I use
50 individuals) and let them breed amongst
themselves for a hundred generations (or so,
it depends on how long my letter is, actually)
keeping the ones that best fulfill my criteria,
throwing out the underachievers.

The criteria that I give to them changes around
each time - I've got a dozen or so precanned
requests. One called "fade" asks that there
be no Os at the top, a full set of Os at the
bottom, and a nice gradation between them.
Another, "worm", likes for the Os to group
in string-like strands, as opposed to blobs.
(Specifically, it likes for each O to have no
more than two neighboring Os.)

My favorite patterns come when I mix the
criteria. I'll say: satisfy BOTH the "fade"
and "worm" criteria. My poor little Os will
complain that they can't be full at the bottom
and wormlike at the same time. Whatever - I let
them figure it out. The ones that do well get
to live, and the ones that do poorly... well...

Here's an example:

O O O O OO O
O O OO O O OOO O
OO OOOO O OOO O OO O O
OOOO OO O O O O OO O O
O O O OOO O
OOOO O O O OOOO O
OOO OOOO OOO OOO O O O O O
O O O O OOO O O O O O O
O O OO OOO O OOOOO OO O O O
O O OOO O O O OOO O O O
O OOOO O O O O OO O O O O O
O OOO O O O OOO OOOO O OO O
O OO OOO O O O O O OO
OO O O O O OO O OO OOO OO O O
OO O O O O O OO O O
OO OO OOOO OO O O OO OO O O
OO O O O OOOO O OOO OO O O OO
OO O O O OOOOO O O O O O O O O O
OO O O O O OO O O OO O O O O O
O O O O OO O O OO OOO O O O OO
OO O OOOOOO O OOO O O O O OO
OO O OOO O OO O O OO OO OOO O O O OO
O OOOOOO OO OOO OO OO O O OOO O OO O O
O OOO O OOO OO O OOO O OOO O O O
OO OOO OO O OOOOO O OO OO O O O OO O
OOOOO O O O O OO OO O OO O O O
OOO OO OO OO OOO OO O O OOOO OO O O O O
O O OOOO O OO OOO OOO OO O OO O OO OO
OO OO O OOOO O OOOOO OOO OO OO O OO
O O O O OOO O O O O O O OO OOO O O OO
O O OO OOOO O O O OO OOOO OOO O O OO
OOO OO OOO OOO OO OO OOO OOO O O OO
O OO OOO OOOO OOOO OO OOO O OOO O O OO
O O OOOOO O OOOO O O O OOO O O OO
O O O O OOO OO OOOO OO O OOOOOOO OO
O O OO O O O O OO O OOO OOOO OOOOO
OOOOOOO OO OOOOO OOOOOO O O OO O OO OO
O O O O O O O OO O OOO OO O OO OO
O OOO O OOOOO O OO OO OOO OOOO OOOOO
O O O OO O OOO O O OOOO O OOOOOOOOOO


The left bar is the best individual after just
one round of breeding. The next is after 5
rounds (generations.) Next is 10, last is 1000.
Here I'm asking them to satisfy my "fade",
"worm" and "drip" criteria ("drip" likes
vertical similarity.)

The patterns they generate have an organic feel,
and rightfully so. They aren't programmed -
they're discovered by survival of the fittest.

I think they've done a very nice job, don't you?

Each time you get email from me, you can try
to guess what my Os are up to. It's a little
game, see?


-k