4 ms·

How is this related to making a measurement of a quantum system and the ensuing wavefunction collapse to one eigenstate? No offense, but it looks like a render

by toddm 4y ago

How is this related to making a measurement of a quantum system and the ensuing wavefunction collapse to one eigenstate? No offense, but it looks like a rendering of my lawn after the gophers got into it.

platz 4y ago
its not
craggyjaggy 4y ago
It's a pretty well known algorithm for procedural terrain generation. No need to be snarky.
- toddm 4y ago
  Just my opinion on the visual. I did my doctoral work in the area of quantum dynamics, and wavefunction collapse does have a well-known definition and context. While it might (now) apply to the generation of terrain imagery as well, it's hardly related to the accepted definition and meaning in quantum mechanics. Perhaps a better title would be "Procedural Terrain Generation." Just my $0.02.
  - platz 4y ago
    You should message the creator and let him know your thoughts https://github.com/mxgmn/WaveFunctionCollapse https://github.com/mxgmn/WaveFunctionCollapse
  - ShamelessC 4y ago
    > I did my doctoral work in the area of quantum dynamics Then why would you have any understanding of terms of art from outside of that field? I understand the confusion, but there's no need to imply that the OP is objectively wrong just because you don't like that (someone else) named their algorithm wave function collapse.
  - YeGoblynQueenne 4y ago
    It's not just about terrain and the original version is seeded with a prototype image that the algorithm learns a pattern from that it then replicates with variations. It's not described that way but it is a one-shot pattern learning algorithm that is much more interesting than just a procedural generation algorithm, or even a constraint solver as others have said. See the link to the creator of the original version given by platz in the sister comment. There's more going on than just "procedural terrain generation".
steeleduncan 4y ago
It isn't, its a constraint solver, a closer analogue would be sudoku solving. The name arises because you start by population all grid squares with all possible tiles, and use the constraints to progressively eliminate tiles until there is only one for each grid square. Sometimes you need to make a random choice between equally valid tiles, so in a sense you start with a superposition of possible tilings, and reduce to a single one, hence the name.

by toddm 4y ago

platz 4y ago

its not

craggyjaggy 4y ago

It's a pretty well known algorithm for procedural terrain generation. No need to be snarky.

toddm 4y ago
Just my opinion on the visual. I did my doctoral work in the area of quantum dynamics, and wavefunction collapse does have a well-known definition and context. While it might (now) apply to the generation of terrain imagery as well, it's hardly related to the accepted definition and meaning in quantum mechanics. Perhaps a better title would be "Procedural Terrain Generation." Just my $0.02.
- platz 4y ago
  You should message the creator and let him know your thoughts https://github.com/mxgmn/WaveFunctionCollapse https://github.com/mxgmn/WaveFunctionCollapse
- ShamelessC 4y ago
  > I did my doctoral work in the area of quantum dynamics Then why would you have any understanding of terms of art from outside of that field? I understand the confusion, but there's no need to imply that the OP is objectively wrong just because you don't like that (someone else) named their algorithm wave function collapse.
- YeGoblynQueenne 4y ago
  It's not just about terrain and the original version is seeded with a prototype image that the algorithm learns a pattern from that it then replicates with variations. It's not described that way but it is a one-shot pattern learning algorithm that is much more interesting than just a procedural generation algorithm, or even a constraint solver as others have said. See the link to the creator of the original version given by platz in the sister comment. There's more going on than just "procedural terrain generation".

steeleduncan 4y ago

It isn't, its a constraint solver, a closer analogue would be sudoku solving. The name arises because you start by population all grid squares with all possible tiles, and use the constraints to progressively eliminate tiles until there is only one for each grid square. Sometimes you need to make a random choice between equally valid tiles, so in a sense you start with a superposition of possible tilings, and reduce to a single one, hence the name.