Jan 132013
Dec 312012
Note to self:
Fulfill this criteria for Noble Ape in 2013.
Dec 302012
Sep 172012
I am working through adding audio to the simulation. In particular giving the Noble Apes both voices and an intelligible language. This may produces some interest results. Current the language is very simple with four vowels and four consonants. I’m keeping it simple mainly through their mouth and throat simplicity. There is plenty of primate language work to base the voices on and the ability to add genetic uniqueness and regional dialects is also proving interesting.
Stay tuned for southern and northern Noble Apes?
As the voices are ultimately about functional frequency manipulation there is a great potential for song. As the Noble Apes communicate currently, it can be approximated as two voices speaking over each other in rapid and refining succession. It does lend itself to a fierce round-like song pattern.
There has been a legacy interest of linguists through parts of the simulation. The ability for evolving language components to Noble Ape will no-doubt bring that interest in a focused form.
Initially the spoken audio will be produced as AIFF files. I’m hoping to get realtime stereo audio for Mac at least initially. At the same time, I’ll bring the command line/GUI functionality to Linux in this version.
With the permutations of names and the potential to package the AIFFs to iTunes, there may be an army of Noble Ape Idol tracks flooding the market shortly.
Watch out UK, Christmas #1 potential. Seriously.
Sep 042012
Some in the recent past I release version 0.695 of the Simulation. It was a Mac only release. My aim for 0.696 is to make the came command line/GUI combination changes to the Linux version and modernize the interface so the Linux version runs will the feature set of the Mac version. 0.697 may be a similar release for Windows.
The Mac version of the Simulation has been plugging ahead with slightly more features each release for about ten releases now. The rewrite of the Linux interface has also required some of the Mac features to be rewritten to be more platform generic.
In addition, I have been reflecting heavily on my time at ALIFE XIII. Although a lot of audio made it to both Ape Reality and the Biota podcasts, I haven’t yet formalized my own thinking from the event and my time following at Michigan State University and University of Illinois, Chicago.
Mixed feelings I must say. It is curious when you have been developing something for the time I have been developing Noble Ape that it isn’t quite like other artificial life simulations, but is it similar enough to continue the name or should it be a different class of simulation. More on this when I have solidified my thinking.
I’m also working on a chapter for Bruce Damer currently on his Origin of Life theme. Perhaps more on that shortly too.
In terms of Noble Ape specific projects. In addition to the platform by platform rework, Bob Mottram is exploring (through perhaps substantial reading alone) poetry and psychedelics as two potential directions for Noble Ape going forwards. More on that too shortly no doubt.
Hey, simulator, leave us apes alone!
Jun 152012
Regulars to this blog, will have seen these videos previously but as we’ve had an influx of new folk to Noble Ape, I wanted to provide the videos in a single location. Enjoy!
Windows
Update: Please note that this video is already out of date. In addition, please include the entity directory in your drag-and-drop addition with the other directories.
Mac
Update: Please note that this video is already out of date. In addition, please include the entity directory in your drag-and-drop addition with the other directories.
Command Line
Update: Thankfully this is not out of date.
Update on the Command Line
Future Projects
May 292012
Folks who read this blog who haven’t yet discovered Ape Reality, you will get a lot of additional and historical information through Ape Reality. Enjoy!
Apr 012012
One of the topics I discussed with Bob Mottram a few weeks ago was the constant recruiting needs of Noble Ape. Aside from the rich cognitive simulation aspects of Noble Ape there is a constant need for folks wanting to test aspects of the simulation and provide meaningful data. Bob and I try our best however the need for data in particular is non-trivial as it adds to the short-term development of various elements of the simulation and also long-term periodic academic writing.
We currently have half a dozen new contributors of different levels and interests but the need is always there. Here is the generic post on SourceForge, I am updating each month.
If you are interested, please:
1. Get the source code from SVN:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/nobleape/develop
2. Join the Noble Ape Developer Mailing List:
http://mail.nobleape.com/mailman/listinfo/developer_nobleape.com
3. Email me an introduction directly (this will also indicate that I need to add you to the developer mailing list):
tom at nobleape dot com
Fifteen year old open source artificial life project:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Ape
Looking for general developers on any of the platforms the simulation is currently offered (Linux, Windows, Mac, iPad, command line, web server etc). Any interested developers should explore the code-base and get a sense of the task required. The core code is written in C however additional languages could be used if need-be.
Substantial contributions to the core development would also be encouraged. Experience with multiple platforms would be highly desired.
Additional project information:
If you find this now, in a few months or a few years, the offer will still be open!
Mar 112012
I periodically get asked how to build the Noble Ape Simulation for Windows. Thankfully Microsoft now provides pretty snappy free compiler. I’m going to use a Google link to find it to avoid the link being connected with a particular dated version.
You’ll need a copy of the simulation source. I’d recommend getting the latest tar ball.
And you will need something to extract the tar ball. I use 7Zip although there are many other programs. Once you have it decompressed, I recorded a YouTube video about the final step.
Enjoy!
Aug 212010
The Noble Ape development has always had multiple methods to provide update information. As the project has developed a few of these still persist.
One of the oldest methods is the developer mailing list. Almost all new features and the discussion of future features occurs on the developer mailing list. It is also a good place to introduce your development or user interest with Noble Ape as there will be a number of advanced users and occasional developers on the list to offer support and ideas.
Since 2006, the Noble Ape podcast Ape Reality, has been a good source for information updates if you like audio podcasts. It occasionally contains the music that has inspired aspects of the development and even more rarely there will be a chat with a Noble Ape developer or advanced user. Periodically the podcast feed is trimmed as some episodes become dated. You won’t find a complete collection of the prior Ape Reality podcasts but you should find a good number.
I maintain a personal YouTube channel that occasionally contains Noble Ape related videos. There is also a good mix of life and experiences in that channel too.
If you want a down to the second account of the Noble Ape development, the SourceForge page tracks the code check-ins. In particular the RSS feed will give you the finest granularity of the Noble Ape development.