Talk:Von Neumann universal constructor
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[edit] Citation
He observed that -
This citation is probably best derived from the writing contained within the text due Jeffress, Cerebral Mechanisms in Behavior - The Hixon Symposium: pages 30-31 contain the text "typical traits which appear in connection with mutation, leathally as a rule, but with a possibility of continuing reproduction with a modification of traits." Clearly, the italicised portion of this quote is a satisfactory definition for the term open-ended evolution. William R. Buckley 20:17, 11 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Nobili-Pesavento 29-state
What is this? Is this a turing-machine in a celular automata? Could someone explain this further? 84.59.213.173 (talk) 01:34, 31 January 2008 (UTC)
- It is not a TM in a CA. Rather, it is supposed to be a UC in a CA. In point of fact, it is a capable constructor, though not a UC. It is also not a self-replicator. For more information, see Nobili's website: http://www.pd.infn.it/~rnobili/ William R. Buckley (talk) 19:28, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Merging
These two articles ought to be merged because they both discuss the same subject matter. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Maverick1701 (talk • contribs) 17:42, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
- Thes two articles should not be merged, and for the same reason as not merging with the *Self-replicating machine* article. Universal assembler is one case, while the von Neumann universal constructor is another case. Further the vN UC is like the Turing TM (both abstract, formal concepts), while the universal assembler (however vaguely described) is expectedly a real device. William R. Buckley (talk) 19:09, 1 March 2008 (UTC)
- As no further discussion has been observed, I am removing the flag. William R. Buckley (talk) 17:48, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Pesavento's design
In the proceedings volume for the conference Automata 2008, which is searchable on Amazon at the URL
the topic of von Neumann self-replicators is discussed. One of the conclusions presented in the paper is the fact of insufficiency, vis-à-vis self-replication, of the Pesavento design, as presented in the journal Artificial Life. The point is that one cell of the configuration cannot be constructed by the configuration, and so it is not a self-replicator. It would seem to me that use of the Pesavento design as an example self-replicator is to the detriment of Wikipedia. William R. Buckley (talk) 16:52, 26 May 2008 (UTC)
