Synthetic Worlds
A broad spectrum of scientific disciplines is located at this interface of computer simulation and the visualization of information in dataspace. The interaction with complex technical systems or complex data in many cases requires leaving the two-dimensional on-screen menus behind to navigate in spatial structures. The synthetic representation of the world is a system of game rules and symbols for codified perception. Especially those research areas concerned with game theory, where complex worlds are outlined by game rules, play an increasingly significant role. Scientific and military research is focusing on the creation of virtual worlds and the highly realistic simulation of complex, dynamic processes in multi-dimensional space. Major development efforts have been placed in Synthetic Theater of War (STOW) capabilities, a military set of hardware and software products that comprise Synthetic Battlefield Environments (SBE). Simulations are not just for joint training in tactically significant environments but interfaced with real C4I battlefields through High Speed Data Networks.
Perception Analysis of military operation often reveals the problem of mirror imaging by overlaying the own value set, culture and thought processes on persons or groups to asses or anticipate. Therefore applications of virtual reality schemes employing neural networking and genetic coding to provide avatars that act as opponents have been introduced. In these adaptive virtual environments avatars assume the personality, culture, religion, and education of the opponent. The virtual actors learn and get smarter with time and experience and this representation of the opponent gets more difficult to beat with the passage of time in these adaptive sessions.
But the entertainment industry is following suit in creating 3D visualization thus further gaining economic significance of Synthetic Worlds. Today, through the mass production of powerful multimedia computers for a broad market and the computer game industry, many results of this research and development can be found in generally available programs. A new dimension of digital space is evolving in software-generated architectural structures, intelligent software environments, and in the algorithmic spawning of the software itself.