daniel shiffman http://www.shiffman.net Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:51:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 en The Nature of Code http://www.shiffman.net/teaching/nature/ http://www.shiffman.net/teaching/nature/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2005 20:28:35 +0000 Daniel General http://www.shiffman.net/the-nature-of-code/

Spring 2008 Syllabus: http://itp.nyu.edu/varwiki/Syllabus/Nature-of-Code-S08

Tutorials

Numbers and Vectors

  • Class Intro / Overview
  • Processing review
  • Randomness, Probability, and Perlin Noise
  • Object Oriented Programming Review & Vectors

    • Vectors and Forces

  • Object Oriented Programming Review & Vectors
  • Attraction/Repulsion
  • Friction/Drag

    • Oscillations

  • Trigonometry
  • Polar vs. Cartesian Coordinates
  • Pendulum
  • Graphing waves (perlin noise waves)
  • 2D trig equation graphing (”graphing inequalities”)

    • Particle Systems

  • ArrayLists
  • Advanced Object Oriented Programming — Inheritance and Polymorphism

    • Steering Behaviors

  • Autonomous Agents
  • Craig Reynolds’ Boids — Alignment, Cohesion, Separation

    • Fractals and Recursion

    L-Systems and Cellular Automata

    Genetic Algorithms

  • Searches
  • Interactive evolution

    • Neural Networks

    Description:
    Can we capture the unpredictable evolutionary and emergent properties of nature in software? Can understanding the mathematical principles behind our physical world world help us to create digital worlds? This class will focus on the programming strategies and techniques behind computer simulations of natural systems. We’ll explore topics ranging from basic mathematics and physics concepts to more advanced simulations of complex systems. Subjects covered will include forces, trigonometry, fractals, cellular automata, self-organization, and genetic algorithms. Examples will be demonstrated using Processing with a focus on object oriented programming.

    Reading Materials

  • The Computational Beauty of Nature, Gary William Flake (required)
  • Mathematics and Physics for Programmers, Danny Kodicek.
  • Algorithmic Beauty of Plants, Przemyslaw Prusinkiewicz
  • Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams: Explorations in Massively Parallel Microworlds (Complex Adaptive Systems), Mitchel Resnick
  • Creative Code, John Maeda
  • Just about any book by Ian Stewart

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