Okay, now let’s code those factory objects!
1 bit for blue not red
1 bit for egg not cube
1 bit for furred not smooth
1 bit for flexible not hard
1 bit for opaque not translucent
1 bit for glows not dark
1 bit for vanadium not palladium
Nearly all objects we encounter code either 1111111 or 0000000.
So we compress all objects into two categories and define: 1 bit for blegg (1111111) not rube (0000000).
But, alas, the compression is not lossless, because there are objects which are neither perfect bleggs nor rubes: A 1111110 object will be innocently accused of containing vanadium, because it is guilty by association with the bleggs, subjected to unfair kin liability!
Still, in an enviroment where our survival depends on how faithfully we can predict unobserved features of those objects we stand good chances:
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?”
We suspect a blegg and guess Vanadium—and with 98% probability we are right, and nature awards us a pizza and beer.
Now the evil supervillain, I-can-define-any-way-I-like-man (Icdawil-man, for short), comes by and says:
“I will define my categories thus: 1 bit for regg (0101010) not blube (1010101)”
While he will achieve the same compression ratio, he looses about 1⁄2 of the information in the process. He has failed to carve at the joint. So much the worse for Icdawil-man.
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?”
Icdawil-man suspects a regg, guesses Palladium, and with 98% probability starts coughing blood...
Next along comes the virtuous and humble I-refuse-to-compress-man:
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?”
Irtc-man refuses to speculate and is awarded a speck in his eye.
Next along comes the brainy I-have-all-probabilities-stored-here-because-I-can-man:
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?”
Ihapshbic-man also gets a pizza and beer, but will sooner be hungry again than we will. That’s because of all the energy he needs for his humongous brain which comes in an extra handcart.
Okay, now let’s code those factory objects! 1 bit for blue not red 1 bit for egg not cube 1 bit for furred not smooth 1 bit for flexible not hard 1 bit for opaque not translucent 1 bit for glows not dark 1 bit for vanadium not palladium
Nearly all objects we encounter code either 1111111 or 0000000. So we compress all objects into two categories and define: 1 bit for blegg (1111111) not rube (0000000). But, alas, the compression is not lossless, because there are objects which are neither perfect bleggs nor rubes: A 1111110 object will be innocently accused of containing vanadium, because it is guilty by association with the bleggs, subjected to unfair kin liability! Still, in an enviroment where our survival depends on how faithfully we can predict unobserved features of those objects we stand good chances:
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?” We suspect a blegg and guess Vanadium—and with 98% probability we are right, and nature awards us a pizza and beer.
Now the evil supervillain, I-can-define-any-way-I-like-man (Icdawil-man, for short), comes by and says: “I will define my categories thus: 1 bit for regg (0101010) not blube (1010101)” While he will achieve the same compression ratio, he looses about 1⁄2 of the information in the process. He has failed to carve at the joint. So much the worse for Icdawil-man.
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?” Icdawil-man suspects a regg, guesses Palladium, and with 98% probability starts coughing blood...
Next along comes the virtuous and humble I-refuse-to-compress-man:
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?” Irtc-man refuses to speculate and is awarded a speck in his eye.
Next along comes the brainy I-have-all-probabilities-stored-here-because-I-can-man:
Nature: “I have here an x1x1x1x object, what is at it’s core?” Ihapshbic-man also gets a pizza and beer, but will sooner be hungry again than we will. That’s because of all the energy he needs for his humongous brain which comes in an extra handcart.
Any more contenders? =)
I love the rewards.