Simulation

See also: [Clone] [Simacrulum] [Authenticity and Originality] [Autographnic vs Allographic] [Philip K. Dick] [The Performed WEB (including programming)] [Realism Now (essay by Linda Nochlin)]

Simulation

A simulation mimics (perhaps duplicates) a given object or experience. A computer simulation (using a mathematical model) may try to duplicate the behaviour of a physical system; eg, use a set of differential equations with the proper numerical data can "duplicate" the behaviour of a suspension bridge in various kinds of weather - thus, it *simulates* the bridge itself. If the user/viewer is un-aware that the thing that they are interacting with IS a simulation they may mistake or "see" it as the authentic thing or experience. Many amusement rides place the viewer in a closed box mounted on hydraulic jacks that are programmed to (eg) mimic riding in a down-hill sled, etc. In general the purpose of the simulation is to create a system which can be manipulated in ways that are not possible with the original object/experience. A clone (or mock-up - ie, a partial clone) is designed to be an exact duplicate of the original and to behave, be viewed, etc. like the original. A simacrulum is a duplicated form of the original but may use a vastly different technoloyg or under-pinning to achieve a level of authenticity. For example, the android "Commander Data" in ST-TNG ("Star Trek - The Next Generation") - portrayed by Brent Spiner is a simacrulum of a human. He (in the story or if technology progressed to the point of being able to create an android) mimics (quite closely) a human. But, he is based on electronic and pneumatic systems rather than organic tissue.

Important works

Chronology