A computer agent that develops visual compositions based on the ER-model

This paper describes a computer agent for the automatic generation of visual compositions based on the Engagement-Reflection Model of creative writing (Perez y Perez Cogn. Syst. Res. 8, 89–109, 2007; Perez y Perez and Sharples J. Exp. Theor. Artif. Intell. 13, 119–139, 2001). During engagement the system progresses the composition; during reflection the agent evaluates, and if necessary modifies, the material produced so far and generates a set of guidelines that constrains the production of material during engagement. The final output is the result of a constant interplay between these two states. We offer details of the model and describe a prototype that provides the users with the possibility of adding compositions to the knowledge-base. Then, we show how through engagement and reflection cycles, the system is capable of generating novel outputs. Using a questionnaire, we asked a group of volunteers to describe the features of pieces produced by the program and the features of pieces produced by human designers. The results suggest that our agent provides an adequate novel framework to study the generation of automatic visual compositions.