Un autómata celular (A.C.) es un modelo matemático para un sistema dinámico que evoluciona en pasos discretos. Es adecuado para modelar sistemas naturales que puedan ser descritos como una colección masiva de objetos simples que interactúen localmente unos con otros.

Generative Systems refers to systems that use a few basic rules to yield extremely varied and unpredictable patterns.

Video game designer Will Wright and musician Brian Eno.

Generativity of a system is premised on five principle factors:

1 How extensively a system of technology leverages a set of possible tasks;

2 How well it can be adapted to a range of tasks;

3 How easily new contributors can master it;

4 How accessible it is to those ready and able to build on it; and

5 How transferable any changes are to others, including non-experts.