Artificial life, or Alife as it is popularly called, involves the study of artificial systems that exhibit behaviour characteristics of natural living systems. Why? According to a researcher called Stewart Dean, the goal is "to better understand life and to use that knowledge in real world applications".

Although the study is fairly recent, (it received a name only in the late 80s), scientists and researchers have initiated a variety of approaches into these systems, ranging from biological simulations and self-reproducing digital structures to quests for the creation of life itself.

In the 1950s, a man called John Von Neumann - considered by many to be the father of artificial life - put forth the idea that an artificial machine (an automata) could be made that would, in turn, make a copy of itself. Building on Neumann's ideas, a researcher called Chris Langton created the first reproducing automata that though controlled by simple rules, showed naturalistic movement patterns. From his results he formulated rules that favoured lifelike systems.

Cut to the present. Some researchers like Stewart Dean have been building simple insect-like creatures that run around in virtual environments. These 'stupid virtual creatures', he maintains, will go on to interact on a big scale. Steve Grand, former Technology Director at CyberLife Technology, in his article 'What is Cyberlife' has a similar idea: "By simulating suitable brain-like structures, we create brains, and (given suitable inputs and outputs) those brains will be intelligent and have minds of their own. Artificial intelligence is not achieved by trying to simulate intelligent behaviour but by simulating populations of dumb objects, whose aggregate behaviour emerges as intelligent."

The most basic form of Alife is the cellular automaton, which exists in one of a limited number of states, and is connected to each of its immediate neighbours. Take a look at Peden's 'amoebic life forms' -- a series of computer animations comprising small images moving about the screen, controlled by programmed steps.

There's also a caterpillar and a section on online life where images move via programmed instructions, paradoxically giving them an independence of existence.

This brings us to a researcher called Craig Reynolds who, rather than trying to reproduce life itself, was interested in the patterns of living. He attempted to recreate the flocking patterns of birds by analysing flight patterns and simulating them on a computer.

To experiment with ALife for yourself, download Docking Station. You could also check out The Temple of Alife with its interactive Morph Lab that allows you to create different shapes in conjunction with the computer.

Other sites worth a visit are Creature Labs, Alife on the Web, Emergence and DigitalSpace

Always remember what most enthusiasts of Alife constantly stress: The artificial in artificial life means 'man made'. It doesn't mean 'fake'.