THINKING MACHINES CORPORATION'S PARALLEL COMPUTER AND ARTIST KARL SIMS
COMBINE ART AND EVOLUTION

"Genetic Images" is an unusual work in which the viewer becomes the artist

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 4, 1995) -- Computer graphics artist, Karl Sims' work
"Genetic Images" opens today at the Interactive Media Festival (June 4-7)
in Los Angeles. "Genetic Images" was selected from an international
competition for innovation and excellence in interactive media. Karl Sims
uses the power of parallel supercomputers to create an interactive
environment in which participants direct a simulated evolution of digital
images.

Festival attendees at the Variety Arts Center will be shown abstract images
displayed on 16 video screens by the Connection Machine supercomputer from
Thinking Machines Corporation. They will be asked to stand or stamp on a
key pad in front of the images they find most interesting. The Connection
Machine will note the viewers' preferences and attempt to generate images
that are more and more aesthetically interesting.

"This is an unusual collaboration between humans and machine," Sims said.
"Humans will supply decisions on visual aesthetics, but the supercomputer
will provide the processing power and complex mathematical ability
necessary to generate unusual patterns and textures in real-time."

Sims also noted, "In some ways, these images are analogous to biological
organisms, in that they are created from genetic descriptions. The
interactive process of this exhibit is similar to Darwinian evolution, but
here it is the viewers preferences that determine the rules of survival."
Sims has made extensive use of parallel supercomputers to develop new
algorithms for enhancing visual creativity. His past works of computer
animation include: "Panspermia," "Primordial Dance," and "Liquid Selves."

A pioneer and leader in parallel computing, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based
Thinking Machines Corporation is dedicated to developing and delivering
the best open parallel computing solutions available.

 ============================================================
 From the  'New Product News'  Electronic News Service on....
 AOL (Keyword = New Products) & Delphi (GO COMPUTING PRODUCT)
 ============================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the 
 company or author mentioned. For additional details, please 
 contact them directly at the address/phone number indicated.
 All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
 ============================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  U.S.A.
 Email: RBakerPC (AOL/Delphi), rbakerpc@delphi.com (Internet)
 ============================================================
