My roots ...

Just a few moments ago, I had an epiphany about my longstanding passion that has always existed in the depths of my soul. I recalled my early days in the 1980s when I first began learning about computers, using my inaugural XT PC. At that time, I was dabbling with assembly language via the command line debug and an early version of BASIC.

From the beginning, I was fascinated by the behavior of equations. I took great pleasure in creating a multitude of equations and graphically representing them - a feat that was quite notable during that period. The physics equations I found in my father's library were inadequate for my curiosity, so I started creating my own, aiming for certain anticipated behaviors. Over two years, I developed numerous equations that yielded remarkable graphical displays on the screen - a collection I affectionately termed 'Madness Equations.'

The moniker 'Madness Equations' was born from the erratic behaviors they exhibited. Each equation would produce starkly different behaviors when applied to diverse parameter ranges. As an 11-year-old, the mere act of visualizing and predicting such behaviors while crafting these equations on paper seemed somewhat mad. Regrettably, I no longer know the whereabouts of the floppy disk that contained these equations, assuming it still exists.

However, I am aware that my current work on behavior analysis and forecasting traces back to these early roots. It stems from a deep-seated passion, an enduring love that has stood the test of time. The following figure showcases the results of modifying Genetic Algorithms behavior through the implementation of an enhanced equation for redistributing mutation rates.

The beauty of 'behavior' captivates me because everything we do is inherently about behavior. When you grasp the fundamental behavior of each element in your interactive context, predicting outcomes becomes a rewarding exercise. More importantly, it even empowers you to influence this behavior by gently nudging certain elements in a specific direction.

I encourage my fellow colleagues and students to find joy in their work, to cultivate a love for it because it is truly a beautiful endeavor.