NetLogo User Community Models

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## WHAT IS IT?

The code snippet and the explanations provided outline a NetLogo model designed to simulate the random, exploratory scribbles often made by children. This simulation employs a basic random walk methodology to replicate the unpredictable and free-form lines characteristic of children's drawings. This NetLogo simulation models the behavior of children's scribbling by using a single agent, represented as a yellow turtle, to perform a random walk across the canvas. In the context of simulating children's scribbles, the turtle's movement mimics the way a child might move a crayon or pencil across a page—without a predetermined direction, resulting in spontaneous and varied marks. The model captures the essence of children's early drawing experiences, characterized by exploration and the joy of unrestricted motion.

## THINGS TO NOTICE

As the turtle moves across the canvas with its pen down, it leaves a continuous trail, visually representing the scribble. This trail is crucial for understanding the simulation's purpose: to visualize the path and patterns that emerge from the simple act of random movement, akin to a child's crayon on paper. Observers should note the density, direction changes, and overall flow of the scribble, which are influenced by the randomness of the turtle's movement.

## RELATED MODELS

Random Grid Walk Example: While the primary model focuses on free-form scribbles akin to those made on a blank sheet of paper, the Random Grid Walk Example introduces constraints, akin to a child drawing within the confines of a structured space or using tools that guide movement (e.g., stencils or rulers). In this variant, the turtle's movement is restricted to a grid, offering a different perspective on how constraints can shape the patterns and textures of scribbles, reflecting the diversity in children's scribble artworks.

Both models, through the lens of agent-based simulation, offer insights into the complexity and beauty of patterns that can emerge from simple rules—mirroring the unpredictable yet inherently structured nature of children's scribbles.