Re: Intervals (Was: NIAM (was: Just one more anecdote))

-CELKO- wrote:
> >> Declaring column "MYDATE rdate" actually generated two columns, MYDATE_BEG and MYDATE_END. <<
>
> I disagree. The nature of time is a continuum -- see Zeno and Einstein
> for details. Therefore a single point or a set of distrinct points
> (Chronons) just does not work.

If we label these propositions:

P = The nature of time is a continuum
Q = If X is a continuum then modelling X as a single point or a

    set of distrinct points ... just does not work R = modelling time as a a single point or a set of distrinct

    points ... just does not work

The above snippet asserts P and Q, and concludes R.

I have no particular claim about P or R, but clearly Q is false.

The nature of sound is a continuum, and we model it with a set of distinct points and it works great. Any MP3 or digital audio file you've ever listened to is a model of sound as a set of distinct points, and it sounds just fine. In fact, you can model any continuum as a set of distinct points (color, sound, luminance, age, x-y position, etc.) and it will follow well-understood information theoretic rules. These rules include the fact that you can completely reconstruct the original waveform provided the frequency of change is sufficiently below the sampling frequency.

Also note that modelling a continuum as a set of distinct points is the basis for calculus.

Marshall Received on Sun Aug 14 2005 - 19:26:54 CDT