Dean Hickerson
| Dean Hickerson | |
| Born | Unknown |
|---|---|
| Residence | United States |
| Nationality | Unknown |
| Institutions | Unknown |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley |
Dean Robert Hickerson is a mathematician and Life enthusiast who has made many major contributions to the Game of Life.
In 1989 Hickerson created the first oscillator search program with which he found many small, low-period oscillators, such as caterer, monogram, and fumarole. He has since found many sparkers as well as billiard table configurations, including the first known period-17 oscillators.
Hickerson also used automated searches to discover the first spaceships other than the glider and the various speed c/2 orthogonal spaceships; these new spaceships traveled at speeds c/3, c/4, and 2c/5. In addition to these, he discovered the first diagonal c/4 spaceship other than the glider, as well as the first period 2 spaceships. He again advanced spaceship technology when, in 1991, he successfully combined thirteen switch engines to create the first c/12 diagonal spaceship, the 13-engine Cordership.
In 1991 Hickerson created the first sawtooth, sawtooth 1212, using one of his c/3 spaceships, the turtle.
His extensive oscillator stamp collection, dating from 1995, was and remains a valuable resource. He also popularized Life Digits, inspired by Eric Angelini in 2007.[1][2][3]
Patterns found by Dean Hickerson
3
5
C
N
O
P
T
References
- ↑ Dave Greene (June 7, 2009). Re: 'Life Digits' (discussion thread) at the ConwayLife.com forums
- ↑ Life Digits at Game of Life News. Posted by Heinrich Koenig on March 03, 2007.
- ↑ Life Digits update at Game of Life News. Posted by Heinrich Koenig on April 03, 2007.
External links
- Dean Hickerson at Mark D. Niemiec's Life Page (Life Credits)
- Dean Hickerson at the Mathematics Genealogy Project
- Dean Hickerson's Game of Life Page (hosted by Tomas Rokicki)