diff --git a/README b/README
index 5b9d986..17d80a1 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -28,9 +28,14 @@ The following inputs (in no particular order) are supported:
 	energy <points>
 		number of agent's energy points; disregard
 		in case of dead agents
-	around <chars>
-		<chars> describe tiles, clockwise from top,
+	around <desc> <desc>...
+		<desc> describe tiles, clockwise from top,
 		in the immediate vicinity of the agent
+		<desc> format is two-character, <type><agent>
+			<type>:  . for ground
+			<agent>: - no agent
+				 a dead agent
+				 A alive agent
 
 The following outputs are supported:
 
diff --git a/connection.cc b/connection.cc
index 6a5176a..c266e16 100644
--- a/connection.cc
+++ b/connection.cc
@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@ connection::senses(int tick_id, class agent &a)
 		"tick %d\r\n"
 		"%s"
 		"energy %d\r\n"
-		"around %c%c%c%c%c%c%c%c\r\n"
+		"around %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s\r\n"
 		"\r\n",
 		tick_id,
 		a.dead ? "DEAD\r\n" : "",
 		a.energy,
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(0, -1).symbol(),
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(1, -1).symbol(),
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(1, 0).symbol(),
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(1, 1).symbol(),
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(0, 1).symbol(),
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(-1, 1).symbol(),
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(-1, 0).symbol(),
-		a.tile->tile_in_dir(-1, -1).symbol()
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(0, -1).str(),
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(1, -1).str(),
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(1, 0).str(),
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(1, 1).str(),
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(0, 1).str(),
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(-1, 1).str(),
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(-1, 0).str(),
+		a.tile->tile_in_dir(-1, -1).str()
 	);
 
 	pthread_mutex_lock(&buf_lock);
diff --git a/map.cc b/map.cc
index 631551b..2444ec6 100644
--- a/map.cc
+++ b/map.cc
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 #include <cassert>
 #include <cstdlib>
+#include <cstdio>
 #include <iostream>
 
 #include "agent.h"
@@ -39,6 +40,16 @@ tile_ground::type_symbol(void)
 	return '.';
 }
 
+char *
+tile::str(void)
+{
+	snprintf(str_buf, sizeof(str_buf),
+		"%c%c",
+		type_symbol(),
+		agent ? (!agent->dead ? 'A' : 'a') : '-');
+	return str_buf;
+}
+
 class tile &
 tile::tile_in_dir(int dir_x, int dir_y)
 {
diff --git a/map.h b/map.h
index 286e65b..e80e27a 100644
--- a/map.h
+++ b/map.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ public:
 
 	char symbol(void);
 	virtual char type_symbol(void) = 0;
+	char *str(void);
 
 	class tile &tile_in_dir(int dir_x, int dir_y);
 
@@ -23,6 +24,9 @@ public:
 	virtual void on_agent_leave(class agent &);
 
 	virtual void on_tick(void);
+
+private:
+	char str_buf[3];
 };
 
 class tile_ground : public tile {