System and method for simulating conciousness

Abstract

A simulated consciousness method ( 10 ) for an improved human/computer interface. A computer system ( 12 ) is programmed to have a Digital Life Form ( 32 ) possessing a plurality of attributes ( 65 ). A plurality of actions ( 64 ) taken relative to objects ( 60 ) in the environment ( 30 ) contribute to simulated feelings ( 76 ) which ultimately control the viability of the Digital Life Form ( 32 ). When there are not sufficient energy packets ( 66 ) to sustain the Digital Life Form ( 32 ) then simulated death 52 results. Therefore, only actions ( 64 ) which contribute to the viability of the Digital Life Form ( 32 ) are repeated in the long-run. Some of those actions ( 64 ) include perception of reality, concept formation, and natural language processing.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A computer generated entity, comprising: 
 a plurality of attributes, wherein at least one such attribute defines the vitality of the entity; and    a plurality of actions, at least one of which will affect the vitality of the entity.    
     
     
         2 . The computer generated entity of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said actions simulate actions by the entity on objects in an environment.    
     
     
         3 . The computer generated entity of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the environment is a computer generated simulated environment.    
     
     
         4 . The computer generated entity of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 simulated death occurs when the actions result in a reduction of vitality below a preset level.    
     
     
         5 . The computer generated entity of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 vitality level is determined by a quantity of energy packets.    
     
     
         6 . A computer interface, comprising: 
 a digital form having a plurality of attributes;    a plurality of actions which may be accomplished by the digital life form; and    a selection criteria for selecting from said plurality of actions; wherein repeated selection of actions which do not contribute to the vitality of the digital life form will result in the simulated death of the digital life form    
     
     
         7 . The computer interface of  claim 6 , and further including: 
 a birth process wherein experience from the digital life form is passed on to a next generation of the digital life form.    
     
     
         8 . The computer interface of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said digital life form perceives a plurality of objects in an environment; and    said actions are selected to optimize vitality dependant upon the particular objects perceived.    
     
     
         9 . The computer interface of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 said actions are taken to optimize at least one of a plurality of simulated feelings.    
     
     
         10 . The computer interface of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 at least one of the simulated feelings is a feeling of fullness.    
     
     
         11 . The computer interface of  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the feeling of fullness is represented by a quantity of energy packets.    
     
     
         12 . A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied thereon configured to operate on a computer, comprising: 
 code to cause the computer to keep track of a list of attributes of a digital life form;    code to cause the computer to cause the digital life form to take actions to maintain its own vitality.    
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said actions are selected form a list of actions programmed into the computer.    
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 at least one consequence of the selection of said actions is the termination of the digital life form.    
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 at least one of the attributes of the digital life form is a simulated feeling.    
     
     
         16 . A method for creating a digital life form, comprising: 
 defining a digital life form;    providing access for the digital life form to an environment;    defining a plurality of potential actions for the digital life form; and    providing consequences to the digital life form for such actions.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said digital life form includes a plurality of attributes.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said environment is a computer generated simulated environment.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 at least one of said actions includes EAT.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein: 
 EAT is defined as assimilating energy packets to increase the vitality of said digital life form.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 at least one consequences of said actions is the simulated death of said digital life form.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , and further including: 
 providing a strategy for selecting from said plurality of actions.    
     
     
         23 . A method for simulating consciousness, comprising; 
 identifying characteristics of objects in an environment; and    storing lists of said characteristics.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , and further including: 
 identifying at least ?? of said objects by comparison to said lists of said characteristics.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , and further including: 
 acting on at least one of said objects according to the characteristics of that object.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said lists are percepts.    
     
     
         27 . A method for obtaining information valuable for survival, comprising: 
 performing a plurality of optional behaviors; and    storing information relative to such actions for future reference.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 said actions are initially selected in a random manner.    
     
     
         29 . A method for forming concepts in a Digital Life Form, wherein: 
 percepts are compared to form concepts.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 concepts are compared to form conceptual chains.    
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein: 
 concepts are associated with natural language words.