Re: computers...

hi,

Steve writes,

>By a curious coincidence, Cynthia and I were discussing that very subject
>just last night.  Our solution was somewhat more complex than Scott's, but
>possibly more consistent with MT's (admittedly maimed) rules regarding
>computers and controls:

>1)  A computer can control as many control points as it's (Max Input) times
>it's CP Multiplier.  It can accept an input equal to it's Max Input.

>2)  Computers can operate in series by connecting the output of a computer
>into the inputs of other computers, to the limit of the Max Input of the
>subordinate computers.  Thus, a computer can drive a number of subordinate
>machines equal in number to it's CP multiplier.

Both this solution and Scotts don't really mesh very well with a tiny detail
from the class Book 8 where massively parallel machines are allocated TL=8.

Once they become available, adding extra machines isn't going to improve
performance all that much (because you already have thousands of them).

The limits could be imposed by the software methodologies present at the
given TL rather than the hardware being pushed to the limit.  i.e. If building
large parallel machines were simply a matter of throwing lots of $$$$s and
silicon at the problem then we'd have them already (and my PhD would not be
worth finishing :-).





        						Pauli

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