Conway's experiment: simultaneous grid change

In summary, the changes in Conway's experiment occur simultaneously between each tick, despite the cells being dependent on one another. This can be realized in a computer by storing previous states until all new states are calculated. An example of this is using a 2-cell system with a rule of addition and subtraction to show the changes in each step.
  • #1
Alex_P
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Hi,
In Conway's experiment it is said that the changes in the grid happen simultaneously between each tick. How is it possible for the changes to happen simultaneously since all cells are dependent to one another ? Can anyone explain this and give an example ?

Thank you in advance,
Alex

Source:
http://www.experimentgarden.com/2009/07/conways-game-of-life.html [Broken]
 
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  • #2
The state after a step depends on the state of the cells before that step. Where is the problem? To realize this in a computer, you just have to store the previous states until all new states are calculated.

As a simplified example, you can use a 2-cell system with (as an example) the rule "the left cells is the sum of the two cells in the previous step, the right cell is the difference" and make the following table (where each row is one step):

Code:
2  1
3  1 (as 2+1=3 and 2-1=1)
4  2
6  2
...
As you can see, it is easy to write down this table.
 
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  • #3
Thank you very much ! I just wanted to clarify that. Thanks again, I appreciate it !
 

What is Conway's experiment: simultaneous grid change?

Conway's experiment: simultaneous grid change is a mathematical and computational experiment created by mathematician John Horton Conway. It involves a grid of cells, each with a specific state, and a set of rules that dictate how the states of the cells change over time.

What are the rules of Conway's experiment?

The rules of Conway's experiment: simultaneous grid change are as follows:

  1. Any live cell with fewer than two live neighbors dies, as if by underpopulation.
  2. Any live cell with two or three live neighbors lives on to the next generation.
  3. Any live cell with more than three live neighbors dies, as if by overpopulation.
  4. Any dead cell with exactly three live neighbors becomes a live cell, as if by reproduction.
These rules are applied simultaneously to all cells in the grid to determine their state in the next generation.

What is the significance of Conway's experiment?

Conway's experiment: simultaneous grid change is significant because it demonstrates complex behavior emerging from simple rules. It also has applications in various fields such as biology, physics, and computer science.

What are some real-world applications of Conway's experiment?

Some real-world applications of Conway's experiment include modeling population dynamics, understanding pattern formation in biological systems, and developing algorithms for image processing and data compression.

Can Conway's experiment be applied to other types of grids?

Yes, Conway's experiment can be applied to other types of grids, such as three-dimensional grids or grids with different shapes and sizes. As long as the grid has cells with states and follows the same set of rules, the experiment can be applied to it.

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