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This paper aims to describe an integrated hardware/software system based on evolutionary robotics and its application in an edutainment context.

The system is based on a wide variety of artificial life techniques (artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, user‐guided evolutionary design and evolutionary robotics). A user without any computer programming skill can determine the robot's behavior in two different ways: artificial breeding or artificial evolution. Breedbot has been used as a didactic tool in teaching evolutionary biology and as a “futuristic” toy by several science centers. The digital side of Breedbot can be downloaded on the web site: www.isl.unina.it/breedbot Findings – The results in this pilot study suggest that using Breedbot in an educational context can be useful to improve learning in biology.

As this is a pilot study, one limitation is the small sample considered. The issue will be investigated further with a wider population and subject‐matter, which will also improve the Breedbot system.

These results suggest that tools like Breedbot could be introduced into biology curricula at schools.

The paper describes an original application in digital content and shows the importance of using such a tool in an Edutainment context. It is therefore interesting for teachers, vocational trainers and anyone involved in educational activities.

The fields of virtual reality and microworld simulation have advanced significantly in the past decade. Today, computer generated personas or agents that populate these worlds and interact with human operators are now used in many endeavors and avenues of investigation. A few of many example application areas are Hollywood animations for movies, cartoons, and advertising (von-Neuman & Morganstern, 1947); immersive industrial and safety training simulations (Fudenberg & Tirole, 2000; Silverman et al., 2001); distributed, interactive military war games and mission rehearsals (Johns & Silverman, 2001); and personal assistant agents to reduce technologic complexity for the general public, among others (Weaver, Silverman, Shin & Dubois, 2001).

The purpose of this paper is to propose a new system frame named ACPI for research and development (R&D) management of complex equipments according to the ideas of artificial societies, computational experiments, parallel execution and interactive optimization.

An artificial system which can effectively model, simulate and recur the main features and behaviors of a real R&D system of complex equipment is established at first. The structure and function of the system and its subsystems, and the relation of factors in the system are analyzed. Then one can perform computation experiment, modeling and simulation in the artificial system to obtain the optimal solutions. Finally, practice these solutions in a real system and at the same time perform the solutions in artificial system, forecasting and warning the possible new situations and problems in a realistic process, and provide controlling scheme.

The typical characteristics and solutions of the R&D system of complex equipment are analyzed. The sketch scheme of ACPI, the system frame of ACPI for R&D management of complex equipments are proposed, and the key technologies used in implementing ACPI of R&D system of complex equipment are studied.

The outcome of this paper can be used in computation experiments, management and optimization of R&D systems of complex equipment.

The sketch scheme of ACPI, the system frame of ACPI for R&D management of complex equipments are proposed first. The ACPI system can supply a high‐performance, open and interactive platform for the analog simulation and computation experiments of the R&D process management of complex equipment.

This paper reviews research developments in semiosis (sign activity) as theorized by Peirce, Eco and Sebeok, focusing specifically on the current study of “semiotic threshold zones,” which range from the origins of life through various nonhuman life forms to artificial life forms, including those symbolic thresholds most familiar to library and information science (LIS) researchers. The intent is to illustrate potential opportunities for LIS research beyond its present boundaries.

The paper provides a framework that describes six semiotic threshold zones (presemiotic, protosemiotic, phytosemiotic, zoosemiotic, symbolic and polysemiotic) and notable work being done by researchers in each.

While semiotic researchers are still defining the continuum of semiotic thresholds, this focus on thresholds can provide a unifying framework for significance as human and nonhuman interpretations of a wide variety of signs accompanied by a better understanding of their relationships becomes more urgent in a rapidly changing global environment.

Though a variety of semiotic-related topics have appeared in the LIS literature, semiotic thresholds and their potential relationships to LIS research have not been previously discussed there. LIS has traditionally tasked itself with the recording, dissemination and preservation of knowledge, and in a world that faces unprecedented environmental and global challenges for all species, the importance of these thresholds may well be considered as part of our professional obligations in potentially documenting and archiving the critical differences in semiosis that extend beyond purely human knowledge.