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RIP John Conway
From https://xkcd.com/2293
From Wikipedia, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Horton_Conway
John Horton Conway
John Horton Conway FRS[1] (26 December 1937 – 11 April 2020) was an English mathematician active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory. He also made contributions to many branches of recreational mathematics, most notably the invention of the cellular automaton called the Game of Life.
[...]
Conway's Game of Life
Main article: Conway's Game of Life'
A single Gosper's Glider Gun creating "gliders" in Conway's Game of Life
Conway is especially known for the invention of the Game of Life, one of the early examples of a cellular automaton. His initial experiments in that field were done with pen and paper, long before personal computers existed.
Since the game was introduced by Martin Gardner in Scientific American in 1970,[17] it has spawned hundreds of computer programs, web sites, and articles.[18] It is a staple of recreational mathematics. There is an extensive wiki devoted to curating and cataloging the various aspects of the game.[19] From the earliest days, it has been a favorite in computer labs, both for its theoretical interest and as a practical exercise in programming and data display. At times Conway had said he hates the Game of Life—largely because it has come to overshadow some of the other deeper and more important things he has done.[20] Nevertheless, the game did help launch a new branch of mathematics, the field of cellular automata.[21]
The Game of Life is known to be Turing complete.[22][23]
[...]
On 8 April 2020, Conway developed symptoms of COVID-19.[46] On 11 April, he died at his New Jersey home at the age of 82.[46][47][48]
[...]
John Horton Conway FRS[1] (26 December 1937 – 11 April 2020) was an English mathematician active in the theory of finite groups, knot theory, number theory, combinatorial game theory and coding theory. He also made contributions to many branches of recreational mathematics, most notably the invention of the cellular automaton called the Game of Life.
[...]
Conway's Game of Life
Main article: Conway's Game of Life'
A single Gosper's Glider Gun creating "gliders" in Conway's Game of Life
Conway is especially known for the invention of the Game of Life, one of the early examples of a cellular automaton. His initial experiments in that field were done with pen and paper, long before personal computers existed.
Since the game was introduced by Martin Gardner in Scientific American in 1970,[17] it has spawned hundreds of computer programs, web sites, and articles.[18] It is a staple of recreational mathematics. There is an extensive wiki devoted to curating and cataloging the various aspects of the game.[19] From the earliest days, it has been a favorite in computer labs, both for its theoretical interest and as a practical exercise in programming and data display. At times Conway had said he hates the Game of Life—largely because it has come to overshadow some of the other deeper and more important things he has done.[20] Nevertheless, the game did help launch a new branch of mathematics, the field of cellular automata.[21]
The Game of Life is known to be Turing complete.[22][23]
[...]
On 8 April 2020, Conway developed symptoms of COVID-19.[46] On 11 April, he died at his New Jersey home at the age of 82.[46][47][48]
[...]
Much more at link.
1 replies
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RIP 