SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator 2.6
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Free Version
Publisher Description
Spatial Population Ecological and Epidemiological Dynamics Simulator (SPEED Sim) is a tool that enables hands-on interactive exploration of the spatial dynamics of various computational models in population ecology and epidemiology. The app also provides several cellular automaton models as an introduction to these kinds of simulations.
This app has been used in numerous K-12 educational outreach venues, including:
* Expanding Your Horizons workshops to stimulate interest in STEM fields among middle-school girls
* 4-H workshops for middle- and high-school students
* Workshop at the Maine Science Festival
* Various visits to K-12 schools
* An exhibit at the Maine Discovery Museum, a children's museum in Bangor, Maine
The app currently includes twelve different models:
- Conway's Game of Life: a classic cellular automaton that was created by mathematician John Conway in 1970.
- Vants: (Langton's Virtual Ants) demonstrates how extremely complex behaviour can arise from a set of very simple rules.
- Majority/Voter: models peer pressure, genetic drift or the spread of opinions and ideas.
- Diffuse: physics model of particles randomly diffusing around (e.g. particles of ink in a jar of water)
- Diffusion-Limited Aggregation: models a process similar to crystallization, with diffusing particles aggregating out of solution.
- Cyclic Cellular Automaton: a generalized version of 'rock-paper-scissors.'
- SIRS epidemiological model
(Susceptible-Infectious-Recovered-Susceptible): demonstrates an infectious disease spreading through a population, where individuals have temporary immunity after recovering from the infection.
- Dispersal2: a population model where individuals disperse their offspring at two local scales.
- Fragmented Landscape:a population model with local and long-distance dispersal on a spatially structured heterogeneous landscape.
- Competitive Species: an extension of the Fragmented Landscape model above, but with two species competing for available habitat with different strategies.
- Block Disturbance: a spatial population ecology model where births occur individually, but when death occurs, entire blocks of sites go extinct simultaneously.
- Vaccinated Communities epidemiological model: shows how the dynamics of an infectious disease are affected not only by the total amount of vaccination in a population, but also by the variability in vaccination levels among different communities.
- Internet Worms: simulates the spread of malicious software spreading through the internet using biologically inspired dispersal strategies.
The simulation models allow you to change all parameters controlling the dynamics. Images of the detailed spatial dynamics can be displayed, as well as graphs summarizing the behavior over time. Both types of images can be saved to the Photos library. New patterns can be interactively drawn in the system by simply moving your finger around on the lattice. You can also pinch-to-zoom, and then pan around using two fingers.
Most of the models allow you to load images from the camera and run simulations on them. Tap the Options menu at the bottom of the Lattice screen to load images from the camera or the Photos library. For example: load the Diffuse model, turn on Walls mode in the Parameters tab, and then run the model on a photo of yourself.
Note that the simulations are generally computational intensive and will run more quickly on newer iOS devices or when you select a smaller lattice size. The speed adjuster brought up from the Options menu near the bottom of the Lattice screen lets you slow down the simulation to observe the dynamics more closely. The larger screen on iPads allows for a much nicer interface, but the app is fully functional on iPhones and iPod Touches as well.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant Nos. DMS-0718786 and DMS-0746603 to David Hiebeler.
Sep 13, 2017
Version 2.6
This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.
* Added a model of internet worms, which spread through networks using biologically inspired dispersal strategies. In the model, the colors show the prevalence of non-immune computer hosts in a given portion of the internet; the brightness shows the infection level there.
* Added description of Museum Mode to the "Using this app" info under the Lessons tab. Museum mode is intended for use on an iPad running in a kiosk in a public space.
Some users have requested the addition of text input for parameters. It is on the to-do list! Family and work obligations preclude rapid work on the app, but this feature is fairly high on the list of desired additions.
About SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator
SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator is a free app for iOS published in the Kids list of apps, part of Education.
The company that develops SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator is David Hiebeler. The latest version released by its developer is 2.6.
To install SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator on your iOS device, just click the green Continue To App button above to start the installation process. The app is listed on our website since 2017-09-13 and was downloaded 17 times. We have already checked if the download link is safe, however for your own protection we recommend that you scan the downloaded app with your antivirus. Your antivirus may detect the SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator as malware if the download link is broken.
How to install SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator on your iOS device:
- Click on the Continue To App button on our website. This will redirect you to the App Store.
- Once the SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator is shown in the iTunes listing of your iOS device, you can start its download and installation. Tap on the GET button to the right of the app to start downloading it.
- If you are not logged-in the iOS appstore app, you'll be prompted for your your Apple ID and/or password.
- After SPEEDSim: Spatial Population Dynamics Simulator is downloaded, you'll see an INSTALL button to the right. Tap on it to start the actual installation of the iOS app.
- Once installation is finished you can tap on the OPEN button to start it. Its icon will also be added to your device home screen.
