A number of readers have provided comments to suggest additional “Principles” for Courtship Algorithms. These comments have added further intriguing refinements to this new class of metaheuristic strategies.
You are invited to vote on your three favorites. Authors of the three selections that receive the most votes will be awarded a prize.
Each principle below is first stated in the context of human courtship, followed by the corresponding concept expressed as a metaheuristic strategy.
"Darling, finally, I mean ..." (Termination based on a number of non-improving iterations.) - Peter Greistorfer
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again … (Restarting in new areas to find better results.) - Joshua Snyder
Things are moving too quickly … (Don’t be afraid to be thorough.) - Joshua Snyder
"Your brains and my beauty" (generate combinations based on different criteria, e.g. rigorous and esthetic, quantitative and qualitative). - Zbyszek Michalewicz
"Don't do _that_ again ... at least not immediately" (Tabu search) - Maurice Clerc
May I offer you these flowers? (In case of dynamic or imprecise optimisation: reevaluate) - Maurice Clerc
”Do you have a sister?” (Neighborhood search may pay dividends.) - Paul Rubin
"Bring a wingman." (Exploit parallel processing as appropriate.) - Paul Rubin
"Let's go to a bar separately and pretend I'm picking you up..." (Recast a difficult problem into a simpler problem with a more rapid convergence to a satisfactory solution.) - Frank Grange
I'm not sure I'm ready for this. (Alternate between intensification and diversification strategies.) - Kenneth Sorensen
Timing is everything (If you need this explained, you need a lot of help!) - Suvrajeet Sen
Do you think we should? (Evaluate consequences from more than one perspective.) - Ann Richmond
“Slow and easy” can be rewarding! (Simulated annealing - slow progress can pave the way for greater gains.) - Markus Sothby
Some choices are tabu for good reason. Let’s experiment to find which tabu choices shouldn’t be. (Determine good aspirations for overcoming tabus.) - Enrique Cardenas
Why not? (Be prepared to pursue promising options.) - Elise Farber
I’m not the kind of person you can easily lead astray. But don’t give up just because things aren’t easy! (Move ahead when there are indications of potential benefit.) - Gina Villana
Indicate the three selections above that you like best, listing them in the order of your preference, and email them to glover@opttek.com. Your choices will be weighted by giving 5 points to your first choice, 4 points to your second and 3 points to your third. The three selections that receive the most points will be the winners. Please send your choices by January 31, 2012 (and only one vote per person!). Winners will be notified via email and will be announced in a future blog posting.
