Thomas S. Ray
Encyclopedia
Thomas S. Ray is an ecologist who created and developed the Tierra
project, a computer simulation
of artificial life
.
In 1975, he and Donald R. Strong were the first to propose the theory of skototropism in an article in the journal Science
(190: 804-806), which he later worked into his senior thesis at Florida State University
after conducting additional experiments. The thesis was expanded into his Ph.D. thesis at Harvard University
.
He is currently Professor of Zoology and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oklahoma
in Norman
.
Tom Ray is also a former member of the International Core War
Society.
, Dan Simmons
's conclusion to his famous Hyperion Cantos
sci-fi series, it is revealed by the character of Aenea that the TechnoCore
originated from a human experiment in which computer programs were allowed to compete for resources (e.g. memory) and evolve accordingly. It is specified that the one responsible for it was Tom Ray, which possibly refers to the biologist's Tierra project
.
Tierra (computer simulation)
Tierra is a computer simulation developed by ecologist Thomas S. Ray in the early 1990s in which computer programs compete for central processing unit time and access to main memory...
project, a computer simulation
Computer simulation
A computer simulation, a computer model, or a computational model is a computer program, or network of computers, that attempts to simulate an abstract model of a particular system...
of artificial life
Artificial life
Artificial life is a field of study and an associated art form which examine systems related to life, its processes, and its evolution through simulations using computer models, robotics, and biochemistry. The discipline was named by Christopher Langton, an American computer scientist, in 1986...
.
In 1975, he and Donald R. Strong were the first to propose the theory of skototropism in an article in the journal Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
(190: 804-806), which he later worked into his senior thesis at Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
after conducting additional experiments. The thesis was expanded into his Ph.D. thesis at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
He is currently Professor of Zoology and Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in Norman
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
.
Tom Ray is also a former member of the International Core War
Core War
Core War is a programming game in which two or more battle programs compete for the control of the "Memory Array Redcode Simulator" virtual computer . These battle programs are written in an abstract assembly language called Redcode...
Society.
Cultural references
In The Rise of EndymionThe Rise of Endymion
The Rise of Endymion is a 1997 science fiction novel by Dan Simmons. It is the fourth and final novel in his Hyperion Cantos fictional universe...
, Dan Simmons
Dan Simmons
Dan Simmons is an American author most widely known for his Hugo Award-winning science fiction series, known as the Hyperion Cantos, and for his Locus-winning Ilium/Olympos cycle....
's conclusion to his famous Hyperion Cantos
Hyperion Cantos
The Hyperion Cantos is a series of science fiction novels by Dan Simmons. Set in the far future, and focusing more on plot and story development than technical detail, it falls into the soft science fiction category...
sci-fi series, it is revealed by the character of Aenea that the TechnoCore
Technocore
The TechnoCore is the 'race' of post-singularity Artificial Intelligences in Dan Simmons' sci-fi novel Hyperion. The Core consists of a grid of AIs hidden throughout human space, residing in "datasphere" networks, hidden underground computers, and other hidden locations...
originated from a human experiment in which computer programs were allowed to compete for resources (e.g. memory) and evolve accordingly. It is specified that the one responsible for it was Tom Ray, which possibly refers to the biologist's Tierra project
Tierra (computer simulation)
Tierra is a computer simulation developed by ecologist Thomas S. Ray in the early 1990s in which computer programs compete for central processing unit time and access to main memory...
.