Simulation Simulation

I hear so much about simulation (maybe I am hearing things), what does this really mean!!!
To me any activity that is replicated before being built is simulation. In ancient times the Egyptians, Romans, Indians and Chinese built replicas or mock models as part of their building or war plans. Designs and strategies were built and improved by these replicas, this was the earliest form of simulation.

With the explosive growth in computer systems and the understanding of how to translate the physical world to a computer model has made simulation more attractive, realistic and even fun.
Well, yes I said fun! I remember playing with wooden toys and crude mechanical toys that would articulate as a child but you see today more and more kids are glued to the computers where simulated toys and games do their bidding. The computer games are programmed to simulate an environment and this is one form of simulation and a popular one too.

Today simulation touches every part of our life whether we know it or not. What do I really mean by this? Look at the fancy cars and the sleek little ipod and cellphones, these all were first designed on a computer and simulation or mock up was done via advanced computer programs. Digital tests are conducted to test if the product would work before they are ever made. This is giving us better and cheaper products (let's not forget China :) for making them) for our ever consuming world.

I will talk more about simulations and how things are designed and tested in the digital world in my future blogs.

Until then
Ciya & Enjoy the world around