Karl Sims | |
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.jpg) Sims in 2009 | |
| Born | 1962 (age 62–63) |
| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., M.S.) |
| Occupation(s) | Computer graphics artist, researcher |
| Known for | Artificial life,particle systems, computer animation,genetic algorithms |
Karl Sims (born 1962[1]) is acomputer graphics artist and researcher, who is best known for usingparticle systems andartificial life in computer animation.
Sims received a B.S. in Life Sciences fromMIT in 1984, and a M.S. in computer graphics from theMIT Media Lab in 1987.[2] After receiving his master's degree, Sims worked on special effects software atWhitney/Demos Productions and then was a co-founder ofOptomystic.[2] At Optomystic in 1989, Sims developed software for theConnection Machine 2 (CM-2) that animated the water from drawings of a deluge byLeonardo da Vinci, used inMark Whitney's filmExcerpts from Leonardo's Deluge.[3]
Sims was later artist-in-residence from 1990 to 1996 at the supercomputer manufacturer and artificial intelligence companyThinking Machines.[4][5] In 1996, Sims founded and became CEO ofGenArts, aCambridge, Massachusetts company that developed special effectsplugins used in film and video production.[6] In 2008 he moved to a role on the board of directors whenInsight Partners acquired a majority stake in the company.
Sims' animationsParticle Dreams andPanspermia used the CM-2 to animate and render various complex phenomena via particle systems.Panspermia was also used as the video forPantera's 1994 cover ofBlack Sabbath's "Planet Caravan".
Sims wrote landmark papers on virtual creatures andartificial evolution for computer art. His virtual creatures used anartificial neural network to process input from virtual sensors and act on virtual muscles between cuboid 'limbs'.[7] The creatures were evolved to display multiple modes of water and land based movements such as swimming like a sea snake or fish, jumping and tumbling (walking was not achieved). The creatures were also co-evolved in different species to compete for possession of a virtual cube, displaying thered queen effect. The cover ofChris Langton's 1995 bookArtificial Life: An Overview uses an image of the creatures generated by Sims.[8]
In 1997, Sims created the interactive installationGalápagos for theNTT InterCommunication Center inTokyo.[9] In this installation, viewers help evolve 3D animated creatures by selecting which ones will be allowed to live and produce new, mutated offspring.
His paper "Artificial Evolution for Computer Graphics" described the application ofgenetic algorithms to generate abstract 2D images from complex mathematical formulae, evolved under the guidance of a human. He used this method to create the videoPrimordial Dance – which, according to one published study with supplementary video, calls to mind the history of early 20th century abstraction among its several evolutionary themes[10][11] – as well as parts ofLiquid Selves.Genetic Images was an interactive installation also based on this method; it was exhibited at theCentre Georges Pompidou in Paris, 1993, as well asArs Electronica and theLos Angeles Interactive Media Festival.
Sims received anEmmy Award in 2019 for outstanding achievement in engineering development.[12] In 1998, he was awarded aMacArthur Fellowship.[5] He has won two Golden Nicas atPrix Ars Electronica, in 1991 and in 1992.[13] He has also received honors fromImagina, theNational Computer Graphics Association, theBerlin Video Festival,NICOGRAPH,Images du Futur, and other festivals.
He is married to MIT professorPattie Maes.[14]
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