Matrix vs World

In a running instance of Duckiematrix, we distinguish between two sides:

• matrix side;

• world side;

Fig. 3 Block diagram of a simple Duckiematrix network

Matrix Side

The matrix side is the one containing all the renderers. When we say that something happens on the matrix side, we mean that it is something that is computed, or an event that has occurred, in one or many renderers.

World Side

The world side is where we (human) users and robots reside. Note that we are not making a distinction between virtual and physical robots here. The line is a little blurry here, but let us address it right away. Robots, intended as computing entities, whether virtual or physical, always reside on the world side. Their sensors and actuators though, reside on the matrix side.

Any world entity (e.g., user, algorithm, robot, etc.) that interacts with the engine from the world side is called agent.

The Engine has no side

Sitting between the world and the matrix side, the engine does not belong to any of the two. In a Duckiematrix network, the engine is responsible, among other things, for bridging data between the world side and the matrix side, and back. It controls the data flow between the sides and makes sure that everybody is getting what they need from the other side.