Boat-bit: Difference between revisions
Apple Bottom (talk | contribs) Although adding a category for these is a good idea, I really think it should be called something other than "Memorys" [sic]. |
Undo revision 28510 by Apple Bottom (talk) Partial revert |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Glossary}} | {{Glossary}} | ||
{{Pattern | |||
|name = Boat-bit | |||
|pname = boatbit | |||
|type = Memory cell | |||
|c = 11 | |||
|rle = true | |||
}} | |||
A '''boat-bit''' is a binary digit represented by the presence or absence of a [[boat]] next to a [[snake]] (or other suitable object, such as an [[aircraft carrier]]). The bit can be toggled by a [[glider]] travelling along a certain path. Such an object is sometimes called a '''snake-bit''', although that name is less sensible because the snake can easily be replaced by other objects.<ref>{{CiteLexicon|file=lex_s.htm#snakebit|name=Snake-bit|accessdate=June 3, 2009}}</ref> A correctly timed glider on a crossing path can detect whether the transition was from 1 to 0 (in which case the crossing glider is deleted) or from 0 to 1 (in which case it passes unharmed). Three gliders therefore suffice for a non-destructive read. | A '''boat-bit''' is a binary digit represented by the presence or absence of a [[boat]] next to a [[snake]] (or other suitable object, such as an [[aircraft carrier]]). The bit can be toggled by a [[glider]] travelling along a certain path. Such an object is sometimes called a '''snake-bit''', although that name is less sensible because the snake can easily be replaced by other objects.<ref>{{CiteLexicon|file=lex_s.htm#snakebit|name=Snake-bit|accessdate=June 3, 2009}}</ref> A correctly timed glider on a crossing path can detect whether the transition was from 1 to 0 (in which case the crossing glider is deleted) or from 0 to 1 (in which case it passes unharmed). Three gliders therefore suffice for a non-destructive read. | ||
The mechanisms involved in reading and writing a boat-bit are shown in the diagram below. The bit as shown in is the 0 state, with no boat present. It is about to be set to 1 by the incoming green glider, and then switched back to 0 again by the red glider. The first crossing glider will survive, but the second will be destroyed. | The mechanisms involved in reading and writing a boat-bit are shown in the diagram below. The bit as shown in is the 0 state, with no boat present. It is about to be set to 1 by the incoming green glider, and then switched back to 0 again by the red glider. The first crossing glider will survive, but the second will be destroyed. | ||
The picture in the infobox demonstrates the glider-based read and write mechanisms of a boat-bit | |||
[[David Bell]] found a method of reading the bit while setting it to 0 in January [[:Category:Patterns found in 1997|1997]]. It works by firing a [[middleweight spaceship]] at the boat-bit. If it is already 0 then the middleweight spaceship passes unharmed, but if it is 1 then the boat and the middleweight spaceship are destroyed and, with the help of an [[eater 1]], converted into a glider that travels back along exactly the same path that is used by the gliders that toggle the boat-bit. | [[David Bell]] found a method of reading the bit while setting it to 0 in January [[:Category:Patterns found in 1997|1997]]. It works by firing a [[middleweight spaceship]] at the boat-bit. If it is already 0 then the middleweight spaceship passes unharmed, but if it is 1 then the boat and the middleweight spaceship are destroyed and, with the help of an [[eater 1]], converted into a glider that travels back along exactly the same path that is used by the gliders that toggle the boat-bit. | ||
Other patterns that can be used to perform the boat-bit reaction include [[beacon]] (in its dense phase) and [[eater 1]]. | Other patterns that can be used to perform the boat-bit reaction include [[beacon]] (in its dense phase), [[table]] (if stabilised) and [[eater 1]]. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 16: | Line 23: | ||
{{LinkWeisstein|Boat-Bit.html}} | {{LinkWeisstein|Boat-Bit.html}} | ||
{{LinkLexicon|lex_b.htm#boatbit}} | {{LinkLexicon|lex_b.htm#boatbit}} | ||
Revision as of 12:36, 12 July 2016
| Boat-bit | |||||
| View static image | |||||
| Pattern type | Memory cell | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of cells | 11 | ||||
| Static symmetry | Unspecified | ||||
| Discovered by | Unknown | ||||
| Year of discovery | Unknown | ||||
| |||||
A boat-bit is a binary digit represented by the presence or absence of a boat next to a snake (or other suitable object, such as an aircraft carrier). The bit can be toggled by a glider travelling along a certain path. Such an object is sometimes called a snake-bit, although that name is less sensible because the snake can easily be replaced by other objects.[1] A correctly timed glider on a crossing path can detect whether the transition was from 1 to 0 (in which case the crossing glider is deleted) or from 0 to 1 (in which case it passes unharmed). Three gliders therefore suffice for a non-destructive read.
The mechanisms involved in reading and writing a boat-bit are shown in the diagram below. The bit as shown in is the 0 state, with no boat present. It is about to be set to 1 by the incoming green glider, and then switched back to 0 again by the red glider. The first crossing glider will survive, but the second will be destroyed.
The picture in the infobox demonstrates the glider-based read and write mechanisms of a boat-bit
David Bell found a method of reading the bit while setting it to 0 in January 1997. It works by firing a middleweight spaceship at the boat-bit. If it is already 0 then the middleweight spaceship passes unharmed, but if it is 1 then the boat and the middleweight spaceship are destroyed and, with the help of an eater 1, converted into a glider that travels back along exactly the same path that is used by the gliders that toggle the boat-bit.
Other patterns that can be used to perform the boat-bit reaction include beacon (in its dense phase), table (if stabilised) and eater 1.
References
- ↑ "Snake-bit". The Life Lexicon. Stephen Silver. Retrieved on June 3, 2009.
External links
- Boat-bit at the Life Lexicon