Saturday, July 17, 2004

TopoLog

Yep, this very blog. I'm still new at this, so hang in there.

Let me try and explain what this will be all about. I'm a GIS specialist, and Topology is a big thing among GIS specialists. The definition of topology under the title, Topolog, above is very mathematical. In GIS it's all to do with features on a map being related to each other spatially (by being, for instance, next to each other, even when you change the scale or projection) even when changes to the shapes or sizes are made. The main idea i'm trying to get across is that I will try to somehow find the underlying topology of absolutely everything or is that, anything. I will try to find the relationships that exist between things, and that remain unchanged as one changes ones perspective.

Not a negligible undertaking, I realise (especially on a reread of the above paragraph), but as I get older I'm getting a certain feel for the way things work. Not necessarily a clear, lucid understanding, but just a 'whodunnit' type hunch. I'll try and convey that in this blog. Keep an eye on Topolog.

Wired 12.05: START

The future of robotics, perhaps? The DARPA challenge = 142 mile desert race. The best team managed 7.4 miles. This page at Wired is a great summary. Next year the prize money is $2 million. Hope they get those bugs sorted out.

I'm obviously not an expert on robotics, but some of these attempts could perhaps have done with some testing beforehand? Or is that not allowed in the competition? Better luck next time, dudes.