Signalling Games - contents

Signalling Games

The Signalling Games Group, Amsterdam 2002

"Why do people (and animals in general) use simple signals to communicate simple meanings, and complex signals for complex meanings? More formal, why do we use the Horn strategy?"

That's all what we want to investigate. We try to find the answer by simulating the signalling game with a genetic algorithm.

If this got your attention, please read the abstract we wrote about our project. Or, go simulate the game yourself with our software program.

> Here is the English abstract (Word-format).
> Here is the Dutch abstract (Word-format).

> Here is a zipped Powerpoint presentation, used on the Nederlandse Filosofiedag (in Dutch, Powerpoint XP).

Running the program

First you can try to run the applet, but your current computer configuration might not support it. If your browser can't run the applet you will probably see an empty grey box. In this case you need to install the program on your computer.

Steps to install the program: (Windows only)

  1. Download and run the (installation) program by left-clicking on this link. If you are asked to save or run the program, select running it. Follow the instructions on the screen. If you don't understand a question, just click 'next'.
  2. After the installation, there is an icon on the desktop called "signalling games", which will run the Signalling Games program.
  3. If the program does NOT work, you probably need to install a new version of java.
    You can install java on your computer from the internet, by following the instructions on this website: http://www.javasoft.com/getjava/download.html.
    After installing java, the Signalling Games program should work properly. (You don't need to install it again.)

Alternative, less user-friendly, steps to get it working: (Unix, Linux, Macintosh)

If you have windows, it's easier to follow the steps above, instead of these.

  1. Download the Signalling Games program by clicking here.
  2. You can run the program using a command-shell:
    1. Go to the directory where you saved the downloaded file.
    2. Enter the following command: java -jar signalling.jar
  3. If the program does NOT work, you probably need to install a new version of java.
    You can install java on your computer from the internet, by following the instructions on this website: http://www.javasoft.com/getjava/download.html.
    After installing java, the Signalling Games program should work properly. (You don't need to install it again.)

Software Developers

If you are interested in the source code and technical documentation of the program, check this link.

The Signalling Group of the University of Amsterdam is manned by:

dr. Reinhard Blutner
Erik Borra
Tom Lentz
Arnold Obdeijn
Jasper Uijlings
Reinier Zevenhuijzen