Unit cell

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A unit cell is a subset (usually rectangular or square) of the Life plane which tiles over the plane, with each tile assuming one of a number of states (distinct patterns) which simulate a cellular automaton, possibly itself. A unit Life cell is a unit cell that simulates the Game of Life. To avoid single cells themselves being considered unit cells, a unit cell must be greater than 1x1.

The first unit Life cell was constructed by David Bell in 1996 [1]. It employs standard glider logic to determine whether or not a glider should be present. The two states differ by a single glider. In 2004, Jared Prince modified David Bell's unit Life cell to support two (and therefore multiple) layers of Life universes, coined "Deep Cell" [2].

More recently, a unit cell was constructed that simulates any Life-like cellular automaton [3].

References

  1. Paul Callahan (March 1, 1996). "The Unit Life Cell".
  2. Jared Prince (September 27, 2004). "Game of Life Deep Cell".
  3. "OTCAmetapixel".

External Links

Unit Life cell at the Life Lexicon.