Standing in the shower after an excellent workout the phrase "the power of computation" appeared. Whatever comes next for me must involve this power.
The power of computation is not simply computing power. The power of computation is measured in new possibilities, not measured in benchmark units. For example, if I improve Leo so it works more quickly, thereby using *less* computer cycles, Leo's power of computation *increases* rather than decreases. The thought that whatever I do will involve the power of computation is comforting, for several reasons. First, computers and computer design are what I know and love. I don't ever want to give them up. More importantly, the power of computation is one of this era's major tools. Solutions to problems that do not use the power of computation would feel 'off' to me because they don't use the best tools at hand. Furthermore, distinguishing the power of computation from raw computer power allows me to see new features of common objects. For example, the Grand Theft Auto IV game, which I have been enjoying lately, is an example of the power of computation to create new worlds. What if we consider Grand Theft Auto IV to be a computer platform? What could we imagine? Could we modify the game to create opportunities to practice compassion and forgiveness rather than grand theft? There may be a Nobel Prize for Peace or Economics for someone who can harness the power of computation to make markets work in instances where they work poorly or not at all. The markets aren't solving the Palestinian issue, for example, and, despite hype, they aren't doing anything much to solve global warming. Naturally, computation alone will not solve these problems, but the world will ignore the power of computation to solve major problems at its cost. In other words, I am comfortable seeking technical improvements to any kind of problem. Edward --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "leo-editor" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/leo-editor?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
