computer-go: new topics

["fantius" <fantius@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Yes, perhaps, 4x5 or even 5x5 is possible on today's hardware, but is that
something to be proud of?  Not in my opinion.  Is anyone proposing a novel
way to solve a computer-Go issue?  Not in my opinion.  I know that I will be
blasted for this email by some people, but here is my central point: The top
Go programmers ( I don't need to name names ) are demonstrating respectable
Go at 19x19.  The lure of perfect play is undeniable. However, at boardsize
5x5, it is also irrelevant.  Perhaps some people are enchanted by how
successful computer-chess has been using brute-force-based methods.  Perhaps
some are enchanted by the exponential growth of dirt-cheap computational
resources.  Either way, the discussion at hand is in no way furthering the
progress of computer-Go.  Let's not kid ourselves, this is a combinatorial
math problem, not a computer-Go problem.

Since I realize that this email is a total downer, I am accompanying it with
a list of possible future topics to keep the email list alive:

1) Let's hear EVERYONE's state of the union address on their Go program (I
would like for this to include everyone from Joe "my friend just taught me
Go" Blow to Jesus "my manger was an Athlon-XP" Christ).

2) I have been off Go-programming and on Poker-programming for several
months now.  I enjoy both so much. Any other unemployed people out there
that are devoting most of their resources to such cool projects?  (if I
could stay on one instead of switching, I might have something releasable by
now)

3) David Fotland.  You have been a generous contributor to this group over
the years.  We doubt that you have stopped innovating and we doubt that you
have changed the way you feel about the computer-Go community, so out with
it.  What are your latest innovations?

4) Michael Reiss.  You are an obvious innovator in the field, but I would
like see more descriptions of your understandings/algorithms.  Surely there
is something you can contribute without fearing domination by clonage.

P.S. These enumerated items are a wish list. In no way does anyone
(especially named persons) owe anything to this group.