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Message no. 1
From: "MARTIN E. GOTTHARD" <s457033@*******.GU.EDU.AU>
Subject: Intercepting bullets (was Re: Striper)
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 1997 09:48:22 +1000
> > > Computers wouldn't, either. Currently computers can't even be taught to
> > > catch a ball.
>
> Sure, but that is now. What will computers be able to do in 60 years or
> so?? What is the current rate of computer power increase. Speed doubles
> every 4 or 5 years? As the technology matures, who knows what computers
> will be able to do.
>

I think we may soon approach a bit of a level.... Computer ciurcuits are
getting the the point where it is physically impossible to make them any
smaller, because the electrons burn out the tracks over too short a
period of time.

Also, I beleive that the pentium already does a significant percentage of
recalculations because of chip errors and random internal short circuits

Parallel processing is the next big step, but it's still hard to amke em
too much smaller, bulk wise.

Hell, I can't see 60 years into the future, either... but the increase
has to stop somewhere becasue of basic quantum physics.

> > I imagine it would just shoot through and leave you with two wounds (one
> > in the hand, one somewhere else in your body). Unless it gets deflected
> > somehow, of course.
>
> Imagine something like mystic armor, except instead of it flowing over the
> whole body, all of its energy is focused in the palm of the adept's hand..
> Then add to the mix a combat sence like ability, where the adept has a
> slight ability to know what is going to happen, just a few seconds before
> it is going to happen, for he has spent years attuning his body to the
> universe. If you think about it that way, it is vaguely concievable...
> Remember, its magic..
>

*shrug* Fair enough, but not if I was GM'ing.... Bullets don't scare
enough as it is.
Message no. 2
From: David Thompson <david.s.thompson@****.EDU>
Subject: Re: Intercepting bullets (was Re: Striper)
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 1997 19:54:32 -0500
At 09:48 AM 3/31/97 +1000, you wrote:
>> > > Computers wouldn't, either. Currently computers can't even be taught
to
>> > > catch a ball.
>>
>> Sure, but that is now. What will computers be able to do in 60 years or
>> so?? What is the current rate of computer power increase. Speed doubles
>> every 4 or 5 years? As the technology matures, who knows what computers
>> will be able to do.
>>
>
>I think we may soon approach a bit of a level.... Computer ciurcuits are
>getting the the point where it is physically impossible to make them any
>smaller, because the electrons burn out the tracks over too short a
>period of time.
>
>Also, I beleive that the pentium already does a significant percentage of
>recalculations because of chip errors and random internal short circuits
>
>Parallel processing is the next big step, but it's still hard to amke em
>too much smaller, bulk wise.
>
>Hell, I can't see 60 years into the future, either... but the increase
>has to stop somewhere becasue of basic quantum physics.
>
Actually, I just read an interview of the president of Intel about
micronization and he basically said that there is still a lot that can be
done before any theoretical limits are reached. Also, quantum physics may
actually provide the next (or possible future) step. Basically, there is
talk of the possibility of having the different spin and energy states of
electrons in an atom making up the logical steps that are currently 1 and 0.
Theoretically much, MUCH more computing power (if it could be done at all).

--DT

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