<snip> > ... I worked with PHD math major who walked around with a coffee mug > most of the time sharing his paradoxes of math algorithms and equating them > to real world applications. He once told me the boring mathematical theory > how to stack oranges in the most efficient manner. Yes there was a formula > to it. There was also the stock boy with a 6th grade education working in > the produce section of a grocery store who already knew without a proof > that the most efficient method was to stack them side by side and build the > orange pyramid in the isle.
My understanding is that mathematicians have had very strong suspicions, and for some time, that the "pyramid" pattern is the most efficient possible for stacking spheres (i.e. in terms of minimising the unoccupied volume between adjacent spheres). The rub, however, is to actually prove that (which I gather *has* now occurred, but only within the last five or so years). There are some other (still) outstanding conjectures, such as that every even number greater than two can be expressed as the sum of two prime numbers. (Mathematicians apparently regard the number one as an "unit" number, rather than as a prime or composite number, so this conjecture subsequently does not also apply to the number two.) <snip> > I have my checkbook open and am waiting for the new router. If 99SE is > any indication of how good these guys in AU can write software then the new > router should shake the industry . > Mike Reagan I am also interested in seeing how good a job the new autorouter will do. *If* it really is something to behold, that in itself should make it worthwhile to write out a cheque for upgrading to Phoenix. However, until I do get to evaluate it, I am retaining at least some scepticism. It is all very worthwhile to determine which routes exist, topologically speaking, but I would also consider it important to determine the "track carrying capacity"/"maximum track count" of each available route, and fairly early on in the piece (rather than at a later stage, which the literature released by Altium to date suggests is happening). And what is straightforward for humans to recognise visually cannot always be translated into algorithms in a straightforward manner. But if the code has been written "from scratch", then hopefully it will integrate much better with the PCB editor than has been the case to date (as I gather that much of the code used in previous and existing autorouting servers has been acquired rather than specifically written for use with Protel). We are living in interesting times (though wishing that on someone is said to be a Chinese curse :) ) ... Regards, Geoff Harland. ----------------------------- E-Mail Disclaimer The Information in this e-mail is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this e-mail by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. Any opinions or advice contained in this e-mail are confidential and not for public display. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * To post a message: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * To leave this list visit: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/leave.html * * Contact the list manager: * mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] * * Forum Guidelines Rules: * http://www.techservinc.com/protelusers/forumrules.html * * Browse or Search previous postings: * http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
