Alt-BEAM Archive

Message #02515



To: beam@corp.sgi.com
From: Jean auBois aubois@trail.com
Date: Tue, 20 Apr 1999 13:14:17 -0600
Subject: [alt-beam] Database for BEAM cladistics/genome study


At 02:33 AM 4/19/99 , Nicholas Smith wrote:

> Soo, anyone that thinks there BEAM robot/circuit/idea is a key step in the
> the BEAM time-line should mail me with the following information:
> Type: robot, circuit, idea, etc... (i will use the word 'thing' from now on)

etc.

I'm afraid that I have to disagree with this approach -- accumulation of this
sort of data ought to be done more-or-less automagically (presuming people are
willing to describe/brag about their 'bots.) Egroups has improved their
services which already included message management, polls, statistics and
calendar functions. They have added the ability to create arbitrary database
tables, Java-based chat, a file "vault" and a URL/Links storage area (which I
will begin to populate using the Top URLs table as a starting point.) As a
result, I have created a table based on Nik's basic idea with one addition: a
field where you describe what/whose machine your 'bot is based on. Information
about the table is:

Table name: BEAM Robots
Description: BEAM Robot Pedigree/Cladistic information for Genome and other
questions
Column Names:
Type_of_Robot
Name_of_Robot
Date_of_Completion
Creator
Link_URL
Description
Based_on
Who can add records: Anyone
Who can edit/delete records: Me

I have added one record just to get things started. I'd GREATLY appreciate it
if Ian Bernstein might include information in this table that describes the
robots he shows in his gallery and use the Link to point back to his site,
preferably either to the individual photo or whatever he thinks best.

I believe it was Oliver Wendell Holmes who said something like "Speculation
without evidence is nonsense". I've got to admit that Nik's idea that we could
accumulate this information is correct and might be very useful. As far as I'm
concerned, this is YOUR table -- if you don't put information about your robots
in (or get permission from the builder to do so about THEIR robots) then there
isn't any point in wasting this email list's bandwidth with... nonsense.


Please consider using this resource.


---------------------------------------------------------------
jab

Do you have a BEAM question? Try one of the following sites -- they really
help!
BEAM Robotics Tek FAQ http://people.ne.mediaone.net/bushbo/beam/FAQ.html
BEAM Mailing List Archive http://www.egroups.com/list/alt-beam/
BEAM Online http://www.beam-online.com/
Chiu-Yuan's BEAM Page http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/6897/
BEAM Heretics http://www.serve.com/heretics/

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