Here is my collection of essays, written over the past few years. It
gives me something to do when I get bored, and is a way of exorcising the
various crazy ideas I get plagued with every now and again. The topics
are mainly science or computer based, with flavourings of artificial life,
nanotechnology and evolution.
1. TRACES OF WORMS - links a variety of processes
that cover their tracks. Published in New Scientist at my first attempt -
obviously a lucky shot, because I haven’t got them to publish another.
2. BACKTRACKING - links computer aided design
with general problem solving methods, and the evolution of the brain.
3. WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE RAMPANT VIRUS - The problem of computer viruses, and what
we could do about it.
4. EVOLUTION CUBED - links together ideas about the
changing nature of evolution - is it getting smarter?
5. TREES AND FORESTS - methods of hiding, and what
that has to do with eggs and sperm.
6. KNOTS AND STRINGS - An introduction to String
Theory, and some slightly tongue in cheek suggestions about knots. I wrote this
before discovering that my brother Michael had written a book called KNOTS
about their links with Topological Quantum Gauge Theories.
7. WHY GOD CREATED QUANTUM MECHANICS - about the best
attempt I can make to suggest a ‘reason’ for the quantum world. Links a CAD
technique called Parallel Fault Simulation with the ‘Multiverse’. Was published
on a Dutch CD-ROM about artificial Life by Kees Vuick.
8. MOLECULAR ENGINEERING - some thoughts
on the various developments that could lead us to Nanotechnology.
9. TOMORROW’S PC's - what is wrong
with today's PC operating systems, and what we should expect of them in the
future.
10. HOW BIG IS INFINITY - some musing on
the concept of infinity, and what this has to do with whether the world is
really analogue or digital.
11. WHICH WAY SHALL WE GO? - a short
Christmas message for 1996, with an underlying serious idea about the increased
use of monitoring everything instead of just getting it right!
12. HOW TO MAKE A MIRACLE - a very short
Christmas 1997 story with a semi serious purpose to make people open to ideas
that they can’t necessarily explain.
13. WHAT’S IN A NAME? – I’m beginning to
sound like a grumpy old man, but I can only take so much change for change’s
sake.
14. HUMAN GENETIC ENGINEERING –
What is it? Is it going to happen? Should it?
15. BACKWARD COMPATIBILTY – What’s
the matter with Wintel? How complex systems evolve and change.
16. JURASSIC PARK – Could it happen? What
does this have to do with writing compilers?