Simple rules create complex systems

How do ants search for food? They don't have cell phones, cars and mini-markets near the nest. It's based on SIMPLE RULES. And from those simple rules, seemingly very complex systems appear, like the Market.

Here is how ants work:

1. Travel randomly in search for food.
2. Take a piece of food and head straight back to the nest. On the way back to the nest lay down an odor trail.
3. Notify nest-mates of the discovered food encouraging them to leave the nest. These newly recruited ants will follow the odor trail directly to the food source. In their turn, each ant will reinforce the odor trail until the food is gone.

Now that you know the simple ant rules, drop some bread crumbs and watch the rules in action

http://www.mcrit.com/Complexity/applets/boid.html