From: protonen@daimi.aau.dk (Lars J|dal)
Subject: Re: What words to use and recognize
Organization: DAIMI: Computer Science Department, Aarhus University, Denmark
Date: Fri, 18 Dec 92 09:13:49 GMT

tob@world.std.com (Tom O Breton) writes:

[Deleted: Discussion on whether or not to tell which words to use]

>I recall someone describing a puzzle where one had to get past laser beams by
>clapping an eraser so that you could see the beams outlined in the dust.

You realize this was a spoiler (not for me, but perhaps not everybody
reading this has played the game)?

>Clever? Yes, but you also have to *GUESS* that this functionality is
>implemented, whereas other functionalities such as
>
>  sweeping dust instead up from the floor,
>  improvising a mirror,
>  improvising an ablative shield that would hold for the few seconds
>    required,
>  holding something disposable before you as you go as a 'mine detector',
>  etc,
>
>  are not. (Nor could one reasonably expect all such creative solutions to be
>  supported)

Sorry that I'm straying from a general subject into commenting a
specific game, but I have to say this example is not as good as
it sounds. 

The example is from David Baggett's Unnkulian Unventure II. The
laser beams are part of a security system with 'electric eyes'.
Thus we are not talking about high-powered lasers but about an
alarm system that goes off when you cross the beam.
The description of the room said the walls was full of holes and
if you examined the holes you were told they came in pairs, with
two holes at the same height on opposite walls. This is a fair
hint towards an 'electric eye' system. Hey, even I could guess
that.
Now you had to figure out to use the erasers to create dust. The
erasers was specifically described as "a pair of chalky erasers".
If the erasers was pounded a cloud of dust was produced. If this
was done at the laser system the beams was clearly seen that there
was "holes" between beams and thus you could sneak through.
I personally had a problem on finding out to use the erasers at
all, but once I got a hint in the right direction ("Have you been
in the Dudhist retreat?" where the erasers, among other things,
was found) I immediately saw the solution. I think my problems
more reflects that I'm a beginner on IF who thinks too little on
novel ways to use things.

Using dust from the floor? Fine idea if there had been anything,
but there wasn't. Perhaps the Acme Kleening Korps are doing a proper
job...
The rest of the suggestions would be fine for a high-power laser
obstacle, but they has little use for this puzzle.

>        Tom
>-- 
>The Tom spreads its huge, scaly wings and soars into the wild sky...      
>up...       up...     out of sight...   (tob@world.std.com)

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| Lars J|dal                  | Q: What's the difference between a quantum |
| email: protonen@daimi.aau.dk|    mechanic and an auto mechanic?          |
|    or: joedal@dfi.aau.dk    | A: A quantum mechanic can get his car into |
| University of Aarhus        |    the garage without opening the door.    |
| Denmark                     |                    -- David Kra            |
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