We have taken a brief survey and the results are surprising. First, we found that most computer professionals believe there is a definite distinction between the terms. Second, not everyone agrees on the same definitions. However, there is a clear thread of believers who insist that modeling involves the act of setting up simulation data or models, while simulation is the act of executing the models.
I'll throw another competing word into the mix - emulation. Again, some professionals used this term interchangably with the others. Some actually had reverse definitions for these words. However, a scan of the literature from ACM TOCM indicates a preference for relegating the term emulation for cases where physical hardwares stands in place of intended hardware. Simulation therefore has come to imply or emphasize cases where software is used to represent or model an object.
We will continue to strive toward arriving at clearer defintions in future editions. What is your opinion?
In this issue, we present our growing simulation tool survey. Currently this is merely a listing of available tools. But with your help, we will over time compile comparative reviews.