Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #02510



To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: JVernonM@aol.com
Date: Mon, 19 Apr 1999 22:28:29 EDT
Subject: [alt-beam] Mark T. speaks!!!


Hello all,
I received this note from Mr. Tilden today. I don't think he would mind if I
share it with the list. His comments come first, and mine come after. Enjoy,
and lets get this project rolling!

In a message dated 4/19/99 7:01:17 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
mwtilden@math.uwaterloo.ca writes:

> You should look into "cladistic maps" where creatures are associated based
> on common design features rather than chemical philogony (gliding squirrels
> would be on the same brance as gliding lizards, though one is a lizard and
> the others just good eatin' :) ). It's a well defined field in biology
> and would be the only way to associate the development of beam creatures
> to larger roboevolutionary structures. I've wanted to get a grad student
> to do a cladistic tree on my critters for years. Maybe later, but is the
> main reason I tell people to put their name and incept date somewhere on
> their original beam bots. Someday, I hope that a sufficiently detailed
> cladistic map of mine and other builders might give some insight into the
> nature of artificial roboevolution.
>
> Later. Good thread.
>
> markt.
>
Hello Mark,
I am genuinely flattered that you took the time to voice your opinions on
this subject. It does my heart good to see that the idea was thought of long
ago but languished from lack of time not lack of acceptance. I do think the
time is ripe to begin the process. A web site dedicated to this project has
been offered, and I think it the best venue at this time to make the
information available to the broadest possible spectrum of interests as well
as contributors. Many I have spoken to have sited the net as their starting
point in BEAM tech, and rely on the existing sites for their individual
growth. A dedicated site like this could facilitate yet another explosion of
interest in the tech. The "cladistic maps" structure is a very logical set of
guidelines to make such a huge task more reasonable to manage. Very good! I
look forward to sharing in your pleasure as that living machine slowly
evolves and takes it's first steps into human history.
By the way, have you really ever eaten squirrel? I come from the hills of
eastern Kentucky originally, and we ate them like chicken when I was a boy.
Tastes like chicken too :).
Sincerely,
Jim

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