Re: computer-go: BIG IDEA

[Don Dailey <drd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I  have to agree  with  you here.  I  expect  there may several of the
"moderate leaps" you speak about, but they will  probably seem few and
far between.  In my opinion  the key is to  find algorithms that scale
well  to increased computing power.   I'm not saying that we shouldn't
be as smart  as possible,  but we  certainly want  to utilize all  the
computing  power  available to   us now,  and  the  power that will be
available  in the future.    Some  programs return moves  quickly  and
apparently would not benefit  from more computing resources (without a
rewrite.)

- Don


> If David Fotland's experience with MANY FACES OF GO, or that
> of other programmers of other programs, is of any significance, 
> then waiting for the one BIG IDEA will fail.
> 
> Computer Go and Computer Chess have historically shown
> that progress is achieved through small increments with
> occasional moderate leaps but no one BIG IDEA 
> predominates.
> 
> Suggest we all stop pinning our hopes on pine in the
> sky and accept the future of Go: slow, methodical progress
> with a number of stalls, fits and starts, and an occasional
> good contribution.