Object Oriented Simulation

Abstract

The words "object" and "paradigm" are widely used within existing computer science literature; however, when one speaks of "object-oriented paradigm" or "object-oriented programming," one is referring to a methodology for algorithmic encoding using concepts of class hierarchy and inheritance. The idea of object-oriented methodology within simulation is to treat the algorithm as a set of objects. Procedures, often termed "methods" may be activated via object to object message transmission -- object A sends a message to another object B that might say, "I am moving towards you at a rate of 20 meters/sec." Object B might then respond to this incoming message by sending messages of its own to other objects within the simulation. Methods are stored "within" an object's frame or definition.