On Thu, 2007-01-25 at 01:27 +0100, alain Baeckeroot wrote: > Le mercredi 24 janvier 2007 22:34, Don Dailey a écrit : > > On Wed, 2007-01-24 at 21:11 +0100, alain Baeckeroot wrote: > > > With 10^170 legal position for 19x19 what would be the size of this > > > table ? > > > I m afraid we cannot build it with all the matter in visible > > > universe. > > > > I think the computer science greats should have consulted you before > > writing their textbooks > Hmm didn't you notice the question mark ? > I thought this list was to exchange ideas and point of vue. My remark > is not so stupid that i have to endure your irony.
It wasn't stupid, it was just too obvious and didn't have anything to do with our discussion which clearly WAS theoretical only. > AFAIK this is not a philosophical list about god power, so considering > physical limits is not out of topic. Imho go programming is difficult > and thus an interesting problem _because of_ these physical limitation > due to the world we live in. But Chris started the statement you responded to like this: "Since no one has mentioned bounding memory, ..." So his reply was based on the assumption that he could specify memory without limit. The physical limitations of computing is an interesting topic in it's own right, but that's a different discussion. When you are discussing the theoretical aspects of computer algorithms, such as turing machines and such, physics usually has no place in the discussion. Since we really don't know how big the universe is, or how long it will last, it's hard to use it anyway to prove or disprove anything. I assume that's why you referred to the "visible universe", instead of the universe. - Don > Regards. > Alain > > > > - I just looked at this crazy thing called a > > "turing machine" in one of my textbooks. > > > > A universal turing machine supposedly has an infinite tape attached to > > it. Maybe they are smart about computers, but they don't know > > anything > > about physics. I think all these textbooks need to be thrown out > > because they are obviously of no practical value. > > > > - Don > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > computer-go mailing list > > computer-go@computer-go.org > > http://www.computer-go.org/mailman/listinfo/computer-go/ > > _______________________________________________ computer-go mailing list computer-go@computer-go.org http://www.computer-go.org/mailman/listinfo/computer-go/
