Seminar Abstract

27 Sep 2006:
Speaker: Peter Beyls
Venue:     Devonport Lecture Theatre, Portland Square
Time:       14:00

The evolution of man-machine relationships during open improvisation

We propose a novel model for open man-machine improvisation, it does not provide explicit control but supports reciprocal behaviour. The implementation consists of a variable collection of evolved networks for machine listening and genetic programming based functions for playing. The system aims both integration with the current context as well as the expression of a personal character. As we have no absolute fitness measure, we try to trace changes in the man-machine relationships that develop over time. A relationship is basically a suggestion for the interpretation of changes in similarity between man and machine originated material. Similarity thus mirrors either social agreement or conflict. We evolve families of relationships on-line and trace how well they contribute to the prevailing context; the current global objective of the program i.e. integration or expression. The system features interesting emergent functionality because of the myriad of non-linear couplings inside and between the system’s building blocks. Rewarding, qualitative interaction follows from the continuous confrontation of coordinated yet unpredictable behaviour of both man and machine. Our talk addresses the design and functioning of the modular systems architecture and discusses some of the experimental results obtained so far.