Tue May 15 12:38:20 EDT 2007

2,3 Turing Machine Research Prize

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I  decided to read the Wolfram newsletter that I normally get but
delete - and I am glad I did read it.  In addition to celebrating
NKS'  5th birthday, Wolfram announced a $25,000 prize for proving
or disproving the universality of  what  could  be  the  smallest
known Turing machine.

  Check it!


I spent several hours lastnight looking at it, figuring  out  how
the  machine  worked,  etc.  I am no expert, but I know enough to
play around with it.  Maybe this will be my summer project :).

There are many approaches to showing the  universality  of  these
sorts  of systems, but the most common is emulating a system that
has already been shown to be universal such as Conway's  Game  of
Life.

I  read NKS a couple of years ago, and while I am no silly fanboy
I do have a lot of positive things to say about the book and  the
role it played in introducing me to many concepts that I appreci-
ate now more than ever.

Here's to working on the problem!  I doubt  I'll  solve  it,  but
simply trying will be very good experience.

Cheers.


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