ABSTRACT

The Universal Constructor is a working model of an interactive, intelligent landscape, environment and structure. The model consists of a baseboard which represents the landscape and a series of cells which can be stacked at specific locations on the landscape and can represent structure or environment. The model is described as intelligent because every cell and every landscape location contains an integrated circuit which can communicate with units above and below. Each cell and location also has an identifying code and is equipped with eight light emitting diodes which it can use to display the code or display any other state or message. The whole model thus knows where every unit is and what it is and this allows for the model to be interactive because anyone can change the configuration of the model, and the model as a whole then knows what changes have been made and can respond in turn.

• John Frazer  (Northern Ireland, UK)