Graphical User Interface: Difference between revisions

This section provides an overview of the different elements of the graphical user interface for interacting with the ''VirtualLabs'' simulation engine.

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rect 246 0 480 39 [[#&ensp; Select different views of the data|Select different views of the data]]

rect 0 40 480 472 [[#&ensp; View of the data|View of the data]]

rect 0 475 480 510 [[#&ensp; Speed of calculations|Speed of calculations: left - slow, right - fast]]

rect 0 548 480 572 [[#&ensp; Status messages|Summary of state of population and place to report status messages, warnings and errors of the simulation engine.]]

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Indicates the time elapsed since the start of the simulations or numerical calculations. For simulations, the time is measured in units of Monte-Carlo steps (MC steps). If the population size is <math>N</math>, then an MC step consists of <math>N</math> individual updates. For numerical the integration of ordinary differential equations (ODE), the time increment is automatically chosen by the integrator (Fifth-order Runge-Kutta method with adaptive step size). For numerical integration of partial differential equations (PDE), the [[Parameters/PDE#Time increment|time increment]] is an adjustable parameter. Similarly, the time between [[Parameters/Misc#Report frequency|subsequent reports]] of the state of the population can be customized.

For a better understanding of the progress of the simulations or numerical calculations, the current state of the population can be presented in a number of different ways. This is very valuable to generate a deeper intuitive understanding of the dynamics. The number and type of [[Data views|data views]] available depends on the type of model.

Here the different types of reports for the current state of the system are shown. This example depicts the state of a simulation run of the spatial Snowdrift game after 500 MC steps. Individuals are arranged on a rectangular <math>101\times101</math> lattice and interact only with their four nearest neighbors to the north, south, east and west. The different colors indicate the strategy of each individual - in the present case, these are cooperators and defectors:

{{Legend:StrategiesCD}}

Further details on the presentation of the data, available manipulations using the mouse and additional information accessible through tool tips triggered by the mouse pointer are provided together with the detailed description of the different [[data views]].

For running simulations or numerical calculations the slider sets the delay between subsequent updates. Delays are large on the left and minimal on the right. On the left, simulations or numerical calculations are suspended between updates for approximately 2 seconds. On far right they are running without delay and the time between updates depends on various factors including the [[Parameters/Misc|report frequency]], the [[Parameters/Misc|population size]] and the CPU power of the computer.  

==[[Image:GUI.6.png|28px]] &ensp; '''Reset'''==

Displays the next state of the population. The step size depends on the [[Parameters/Misc#Report frequency|report frequency]] and possible on the [[Parameters/PDE#Time increment|time increment]] for PDE's. In addition, the required CPU time for one step depends on the population size <math>N</math>.

In this area different kinds of information is displayed. Upon startup it shows the version of the graphical front end as well as of the engine. If the ''VirtualLabs'' engine encounters difficulties (e.g. incompatible parameter settings) then a warning is shown. More detailed information on the type of problem - and potential countermeasures - is available on the  [[Data views#Console|console log]]. The standard display summarizes the current state of the population. For discrete strategies this is the average frequency of each strategic type (the value in brackets indicates the long term average since the start of the simulations). For continuous strategies it displays the minimum, mean and maximum value of the strategic trait in the population.

[[Category:Documentation]]

[[Category:Christoph Hauert]]