Re: Impossible Database Design?

Marshall wrote:
> Frank Hamersley wrote:

>> Marshall wrote:
>>> I knocked down
>>> the complaint about needing to represent time as continuous,
>>> since it's impossible,
>> Bullshite and all the attendant inferences that follow!

The vulgarity was directed at highlighting your recent company.

> If you want
> to show that I'm wrong about it being impossible to completely
> represent a continuum, all you have to do is show how.

True - but then I would have to film (sic) you! :-)

> Which
> you won't be able to do since it's impossible.

Phew - I'm relieved to know before expending precious resources that my attempt would be in vain.

> There are an
> infinite number of numbers between 0 and 1, so you would
> need an infinite number of different representations. Computers
> being finite and all, no can do.

You are muddling up the ability (not) of computers to represent certain discrete numbers and the inherent limits to accuracy as against a computer based construct that represents time as a continuum.

> Not being a physicist, I don't have an opinion on the true
> nature of time: discrete or continuous? But as a computer
> scientist, I do know that you can't fully represent a
> continuum.

My advice would be to get the answer to the first question before promoting specific views on how to represent it.

I would explain my reasons for disagreeing privately if I could get you to sign an NDA that I was convinced would be enforceable.

Cheers, Frank. Received on Mon May 22 2006 - 16:13:07 CEST