Comments on: Now do crosswords http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/ the blog that is not dansdata.com Sun, 12 Feb 2012 06:24:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.1-alpha by: Popup http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5606 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:54:29 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5606 <blockquote>How do we not know that it was not programmed to put the right numbers in the right places in the first place? </blockquote>The actual sudoku-solving algorithm is probably the least interesting thing here. (There are several well-known algorithms for that.) Even if it's just pre-programmed to fill in a previously specified grid (which I seriously doubt) it's a pretty amazing achievement to scan the contents (unless that's <i>also</i> faked) and <i>write</i> a correct solution, using just wheel rotation and the swinging arm. And given that the same author has previously done the rubiks cube, for which he hands out the source code, I'm pretty sure that you'll be able to find the source code for this machine as well, soon.

How do we not know that it was not programmed to put the right numbers in the right places in the first place? The actual sudoku-solving algorithm is probably the least interesting thing here. (There are several well-known algorithms for that.) Even if it's just pre-programmed to fill in a previously specified grid (which I seriously doubt) it's a pretty amazing achievement to scan the contents (unless that's also faked) and write a correct solution, using just wheel rotation and the swinging arm.

And given that the same author has previously done the rubiks cube, for which he hands out the source code, I'm pretty sure that you'll be able to find the source code for this machine as well, soon.

]]> by: RichVR http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5603 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:35:02 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5603 Now that I've watched it yet again, I have to ask. How do we not know that it was not programmed to put the right numbers in the right places in the first place? The girlfriend asked this. So I am forced to be very skeptical now. Yes honey, I asked. Now that I've watched it yet again, I have to ask. How do we not know that it was not programmed to put the right numbers in the right places in the first place?

The girlfriend asked this. So I am forced to be very skeptical now.

Yes honey, I asked.

]]> by: TwoHedWlf http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5577 Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:26:28 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5577 Damnit, and I thought I was all clever putting retractable landing gear and variable sweep wings on the planes I made with legos.:( Damnit, and I thought I was all clever putting retractable landing gear and variable sweep wings on the planes I made with legos.:(

]]> by: FuzzyPlushroom http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5576 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:52:08 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5576 I think I can scan a Sudoku (x) times faster than this bemicroprocessored Lego creation, but I think it can solve one about (x) times faster than I can... it would be an interesting race indeed. Incidentally, the CAPTCHA numbers I got before I logged in were pixellated numbers similar to those that appear on the Mindstorms bot's screen. I think I can scan a Sudoku (x) times faster than this bemicroprocessored Lego creation, but I think it can solve one about (x) times faster than I can... it would be an interesting race indeed.

Incidentally, the CAPTCHA numbers I got before I logged in were pixellated numbers similar to those that appear on the Mindstorms bot's screen.

]]> by: RichVR http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5575 Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:48:54 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5575 Very much like watching my girlfriend. Except for the cute "tongue tip sticking out of the mouth in concentration thing". But just as exciting. Very much like watching my girlfriend. Except for the cute "tongue tip sticking out of the mouth in concentration thing". But just as exciting.

]]> by: kamikrae-z http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5572 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:55:56 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5572 SA Penguin - I demand that you submit to a Turing test to prove that YOU are not a Mindstorms NXT module. SA Penguin - I demand that you submit to a Turing test to prove that YOU are not a Mindstorms NXT module.

]]> by: SA Penguin http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5570 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:04:38 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5570 I'm ignorant of the powers of Lego. Can this be modified to fill in a Tax Return? Can it copy my signature? I'm ignorant of the powers of Lego. Can this be modified to fill in a Tax Return? Can it copy my signature?

]]> by: rndmnmbr http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5569 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:34:59 +0100 http://dansdata.blogsome.com/2009/08/23/now-do-crosswords/#comment-5569 Every time I build something cool with lego, someone always comes along and proves that not only are my creations just not cool enough, but also that it's possible to build a T-800 army and conquer the world with it. As a matter of fact, it would not surprise me if the blackened heart of Skynet was a Mindstorms brick. Every time I build something cool with lego, someone always comes along and proves that not only are my creations just not cool enough, but also that it's possible to build a T-800 army and conquer the world with it.

As a matter of fact, it would not surprise me if the blackened heart of Skynet was a Mindstorms brick.

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