18 Hamming, Learning to Learn: Simulation I, 5 May 1995
Channel: Hamming on Hamming: Learning to Learn
Date: 2018-02-28

A major use of computers these days, after writing and text editing, graphics, program compilation, etc. is simulation. More than 9 out of 10 experiments are done on computers these days. I have already mentioned my serious worries that we are depending on simulation more and more, and are looking at reality less and less, and hence seem to be approaching the old scholastic attitude that what is in the textbooks is reality and does not need constant experimental checks. I will not dwell on this point further now. We use computers to do simulations because they are: (1) cheaper, (2) faster, (3) often better, and (4) can do what you cannot do in the lab.

00:00 Introduction Simulation: What if?
01:25 Why computers are better?
06:00 The atmosphere contrast
09:24 Get a great deal of repetition to justify writing programs
13:30 Jules Verne’s Trip to the Moon
15:20 Frequently fewer answers understood are much better
17:48 Search out all the possibilities theoretically...
20:40 Traveling wave tube
22:57 An active aggressive mind can add a great deal to a Simulation
30:05 The jargon is essential
32:45 28 Differential equations
35:25 Can not turn the simulation over to professionals and not monitor...
37:20 Infinite number equations
40:10 I can simulate anything in some degree
48:40 End

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