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Summary made by Quivr/GPT-4

user:

What is this document about? Give me a detailed summary explaining the discoveries and observations in this document. Use plain English that is easy to understand and really highlight the potential benefits of the discoveries made.

assistant:

This document is a research paper about an experiment where real crickets were used to control the ghosts in a modified version of the computer game “Pac-Man”. The researchers built a physical maze for the crickets to move around in, and their positions were tracked and linked to the ghosts in the game. This allowed the crickets to directly control the virtual ghosts.

The researchers found that the crickets quickly adapted to the vibrations of the floor, which were initially used to stimulate movement. Instead of increasing the strength of the vibrations, the researchers observed that the crickets learned that the vibrations were not a threat, and could safely ignore them. This was seen as a sign of intelligence in the system.

An unexpected event occurred when one of the crickets shed its skin. The new skin was light and wasn’t detected by the color tracking system, allowing the cricket to move freely in the maze without being tracked. After about half an hour, the cricket’s skin darkened enough to be detected, resulting in five ghosts being put in the game. This unexpected event added an extra layer of complexity to the game.

The potential benefits of this research are numerous. It could lead to new ways of interacting with computer games, where real-world elements are used to control virtual characters. It could also provide insights into animal behavior and learning processes. Furthermore, it could lead to the development of more intelligent systems that can adapt and learn from their environment.

user:

How where the crickets made to want to catch and avoid Pacman?

assistant:

The researchers manipulated the crickets to chase and avoid Pac-Man by using vibrations. They divided the floor of the maze into six parts, each with a motor attached underneath that vibrates when switched on. When the crickets were supposed to chase Pac-Man, the researchers switched on the motors furthest away from his location in the maze, causing the crickets to flee in his direction. When Pac-Man ate a power-up and the crickets were supposed to run away from him, the researchers vibrated the part of the floor that contained Pac-Man’s position.