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#1 2011-03-06 02:10:40
- matthen
- Member
- Registered: 2011-03-06
- Posts: 8
SETI Decoding Challenge
Hey,
Check out the SETI Challenge: http://seti.matthen.com/
It has some decoding challenges, where you are presented with a made up signal from an extra terrestrial source, and you must try to decode what it means.
Good luck!
Matt
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#2 2011-03-06 05:53:05
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: SETI Decoding Challenge
Hi matthen;
Welcome to the forum! I do not know what it means but their are a couple of dudes playing the first challenge underneath my window.
Thanks for the link to your site.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#3 2011-03-06 07:20:26
- matthen
- Member
- Registered: 2011-03-06
- Posts: 8
Re: SETI Decoding Challenge
Thanks for the welcome!
What do you mean? Is that a satirical comment about modern music?!
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#4 2011-03-06 07:22:23
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: SETI Decoding Challenge
Yes, something like that.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#5 2011-03-06 07:23:55
- matthen
- Member
- Registered: 2011-03-06
- Posts: 8
Re: SETI Decoding Challenge
That reminds me of an interesting question.
Would there be any value in sending a signal of music to an extra terrestrial intelligence?
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#6 2011-03-06 07:29:22
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: SETI Decoding Challenge
Hi;
That is a good question. Most life forms here have an auditory organ. They would probably be able to discern it from random noise. I do not know how they would interpret it. What type of music do you recommend?
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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#7 2011-03-06 07:38:25
- matthen
- Member
- Registered: 2011-03-06
- Posts: 8
Re: SETI Decoding Challenge
Would you even need an auditory organ to get music? It would be transmitted as an electromagnetic wave, so it isn't a given that it should be converted into sound. It could be converted into a visualisation or vibrations or something else. It's conceivable that a biological organ could exist which can directly pick up radio waves.
I don't think music could send any practical message other than- hey we exist and we like this kind of patterns. It's not even necessary that an ETI would appreciate music...
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#8 2011-03-06 07:53:37
- bobbym
- bumpkin
- From: Bumpkinland
- Registered: 2009-04-12
- Posts: 109,606
Re: SETI Decoding Challenge
Yes, they would have to understand a great deal about it to change it into sound waves. For an hear to "hear" radio waves it might have to be larger. I have heard of people that claimed to pick up signals through the fillings in their teeth.
That is the point, if they did not respond to music like we do, and just thought of it as a pattern then there are other patterns that we can send that are clearer in intention.
In mathematics, you don't understand things. You just get used to them.
If it ain't broke, fix it until it is.
Always satisfy the Prime Directive of getting the right answer above all else.
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