POST-APOCALYPTIC COMPUTING

Contents
Preface
About the Editor
1. The Clock of the Apocalypse: The Rhythms of Life and the Ending of Time
	1. Then a Time Will Come for All Time
	2. The Understanding of Time
	3. The Calendar and the Birthday of Gauss
	4. The Day of the Week
		4.1. In the Julian calendar
		4.2. In the Gregorian calendar
		4.3. The game of the calendar
		4.4. The “odd + 11” method
	5. Meton Cycle
		5.1. New moon
		5.2. The age of the Moon
	6. From Julian to the Gregorian Easter
	7. The Big Cycle
	8. Gregorian Calendar Reform
		8.1. Sun and Moon equations
			8.1.1. The equation of the Sun
			8.1.2. The equation of the Moon
		8.2. Towards the Gregorian Epact
			8.2.1. Clavius adjustment
			8.2.2. Example
	9. Conclusion
	Acknowledgements
	References
2. What to Compute Before an Apocalypse: Knowledge as Cryptocurrency at the End of Civilisation
	1. Introduction
	2. The Horror of Uncomputability
		2.1. Algorithmic probability and the universal distribution
		2.2. Encoding infinite wisdom for ultimate knowledge
	3. The Last of the Computations
	4. The Answer to Everything is Unlikely to be 42
		4.1. Automacoin epochs
	5. Conclusion
	References
3. Evolutionary Techniques in Analyzing Thom’s Catastrophes: Insights into Complex System Collapses
	1. Introduction
	2. Chaos, Catastrophes, and Sudden Changes
		2.1. Bifurcations and sudden changes
	3. Bifurcations and the Fold Catastrophe: A Deep Dive into Nonlinear Dynamics
	4. Real World Examples
	5. Motivation
	6. Identifications of Sudden Changes
	7. Experiment Design
		7.1. Used hardware and software
		7.2. Used algorithms
		7.3. Cost function
	8. Results
	9. Open Research Questions
	10. Conclusion
	Acknowledgement
	References
4. Computing with Stones and Sticks
	1. Introduction
	2. Stone-and-Stick Computing
	3. Conclusions and Final Remarks
	References
5. Computing Without Electronics
	1. Introduction
	2. Liquid Computers
		2.1. Hydraulic algebraic machines
		2.2. Hydraulic integrators
		2.3. Fluid mappers and maze solvers
		2.4. Fluidic logic
		2.5. Billiard ball computing with droplets and marbles
	3. Slime Mould Computers
		3.1. Shortest path and maze
		3.2. Travelling salesman problem
		3.3. Spanning tree
		3.4. Approximation of transport networks
		3.5. Voronoi diagram
		3.6. Delaunay triangulation
		3.7. Concave hull
		3.8. Attraction-based logical gates
		3.9. Ballistic logical gates
		3.10. Kolmogorov–Uspensky machine
	4. Conclusion
	References
6. Post-Apocalyptic Computing and Technology Towards Computing from Natural Colloids and Micro-Fragments
	1. Introduction
	2. Computing with Colloids
	3. Microwave Impedance Spectroscopy
	4. Numerical Methods: From the Scattering Matrix to Data Visualisation
	5. Properties of the Natural Colloids
	6. Making Colloids with Micrometeorites, Microfragments, and Soap
	7. Conclusions
	Acknowledgements
	References
7. Analogue Computation after Apocalypsis
	1. Introduction
	2. Digital Computers after the Apocalypse
	3. Computing as a Necessity
	4. Analogue Computing
	5. Why Not Today?
	References
8. Computing with Clocks
	1. Introduction
	2. Clocks and Accumulators
		2.1. Digital
		2.2. Analogue
		2.3. Photonics
	3. Unary and Unary Codes
		3.1. Adding unary codes
		3.2. Multiplying unary codes
		3.3. Hybrid positional schemes
		3.4. Multiplexed unary
		3.5. Multi-valent computation
	4. Asynchronous Control
	5. Summary
	References
9. Bio-inspired Fault-tolerance in Electronic Systems
	1. Introduction
	2. Robustness and Resilience in Biology
		2.1. Genetic redundancy and diversity
		2.2. Cellular and organismal resilience
		2.3. Evolutionary processes
		2.4. Networks and modularity
		2.5. Feedback loops and homeostasis
		2.6. Environmental sensing and adaptation
	3. Examples of Bio-inspired Dependability in Hardware
		3.1. Evolutionary fault tolerance hardware
		3.2. Developmental adaptivity and robustness in hardware
		3.3. Collective behaviour inspired hardware resilience
		3.4. Nervous systems for autonomous fault tolerance
	4. Concluding Thoughts
		4.1. Bio-inspired hardware
		4.2. Hardware overheads
		4.3. Next-generation solutions
	References
10. Before and after Big Crunch in a Reversible Discrete Cellular Universe
	1. Introduction
	2. Reversible Elementary Triangular Partitioned Cellular Automaton (ETPCA) as a Simple Model of a Universe
		2.1. Triangular partitioned cellular automaton (TPCA) and elementary TPCA (ETPCA)
		2.2. Formal definitions on TPCAs and ETPCAs
		2.3. Three kinds of configurations in reversible ETPCA P∗
		2.4. Time-reversal symmetry in reversible ETPCAs
	3. Phenomena that look like Big Bounce in ETPCA P∗
		3.1. The case where the cellular space is infinite
		3.2. The case where the cellular space is finite
	4. Concluding Remarks
	References
11. Post-Apocalyptic Computing from Cellular Automata
	1. Introduction
	2. Final note
	References
12. Smoke Signals to Silicon: Unravelling the Threads of Emerging Computing Paradigms
	1. Ancestral Wisdom in Communication
		1.1. Primitive communication
		1.2. Efficiency and limitations
	2. The Birth of Modern Computing
		2.1. Brief fingerprint of computing’s ascendance and digital revolution
	3. The Emergence of Unconventional Bio-Inspired Computing Paths
		3.1. Cellular Automata (CA)
		3.2. Different types of CAs
			3.2.1. Learning Cellular Automata (LCAs)
			3.2.2. Wave Cellular Automata (WCAs)
			3.2.3. Probabilistic Cellular Automata (PCAs)
	4. Real-World Paradigms Based on Bio-Inspired Computing
		4.1. The case of phryctoriae
			4.1.1. Correlation with CAs
		4.2. The case of cellular communication systems (CCSs)
	5. Bridging Past and Future
		5.1. On the road to modern computing
		5.2. Towards a post-apocalyptic computing scheme
		5.3. Development and integration principles
	References
13. Towards Computational Apocalypse: Computing with Minimal Resources and Earth-abundant Materials
	1. Introduction
	2. Sensing and Computing with Simple Molecules and Devices
	3. Waves and Chaotic Systems
	4. Morphogenesis: Memory and Computation
	5. Smart Fluid Technologies
	6. Self-powered Devices
	7. Frugal Innovations/No-Power Devices . . .
	8. Concluding Remarks
	Acknowledgements
	References
14. Challenges of Unconventional Computing: A Personal Perspective
	1. Introduction
	2. Other Considerations on Limitations
	3. Concluding Remarks
	Acknowledgement
	References
15. Self-decomputing: The Lack of Meaning Among Information
	1. To be or not to be? Being, but Through Bodies
	2. 4F’s and Meaning
	3. Is there Anything Disembodied?
	4. The Lack of Meaning Among Information
	5. The Thermodynamic Trap
	6. Conclusions: Self-Decomputing as a Way to Manage (virtual) Existence
	Acknowledgements
	References
16. A Metaphysical Approach to the Apocalypse to Come
	1. The Problem
	2. Towards a Pan-Animistic and Vitalist Philosophy of Nature
	3. Amerindian People are Those Who Already Live in the Post-Apocalypse World!
	4. Final Note
	Acknowledgements
	References
17. Listen
	1. Introduction
	2. Science Fiction—“Listen”
		2.1. Moment 1
		2.2. Moment 2
		2.3. Moment 3
		2.4. Moment 4
		2.5. Moment 5
		2.6. Moment 6
		2.7. Moment 7
		2.8. Moment 8
		2.9. Moment 9
		2.10. Moment 10
	3. Science and Engineering—“Listen”
		3.1. Moment 1, the form and function of the collective computer
			3.1.1. The form of a collective computer
			3.1.2. The limited capacity to compress meaning through language
			3.1.3. Phenomenological computers
			3.1.4. From high-performance computing to quality computing
	3.2. Moment 2, the collective computer getting out of the way of a shared experience
		3.2.1. A gentle revolution of foundational paradigms
		3.2.2. Symbiotic technology
		3.2.3. Composition of collective affordances
		3.2.4. Substrate-dependent computing
		3.2.5. From sensing to leaning into experience
	3.3. Moment 3, artificial collection of intelligences and harmony with nature
		3.3.1. A collection of intelligences
		3.3.2. Partnering with nature
	3.4. Moment 4, the safety of collective computers
		3.4.1. Governance, hierarchy and control
		3.4.2. Safety
	3.5. Moment 5, the privacy, security, and comfort of collective computers
		3.5.1. Privacy
		3.5.2. Comfort
	3.6. Moment 6, affordances, clarity and economics
		3.6.1. Collective clarity of affordances as a moral and ethical driver
	3.7. Moment 7, memory, and urbanism
		3.7.1. Memory
		3.7.2. Urbanism and building architecture
	3.8. Moment 8, fear and collective forms of art
		3.8.1. Existential risks
		3.8.2. A collective form of art
	3.9. Moment 9, self-reflection
		3.9.1. A computation of the self
	3.10. Moment 10, other approaches to collective computing
		3.10.1. Non-symbolic collective computing
		3.10.2. An invisible or higher-scale machine
		3.10.3. A gregarious machine
		3.10.4. Other forms of collective computing
	References
18. The Buddha and Biomass
	1. Actin Filament Biorobots
	2. Dialogue with a Friend
	3. ChatGPT Response
	4. Comments on the Dialogue with the Friend as if ChatGPT were the Buddha
	5. ChatGPT’s Answer to the Main Question
	6. Conscious Turing Machines
	References
19. Neosentience Production and A Set of Conversations With ChatGPT Exploring Speculative Post-Apocalyptic Questions
	1. Introduction
		1.1. Neosentience
		1.2. Beginnings
		1.3. The insight engine 2.0 and research areas
	2. ChatGPT Portion of the Text
		2.1. I provided this definition of neosentience to ChatGPT
	3. Conclusion by Seaman
	References
20. Doomsday Machines Computer and Computing in Cold-War Science Fiction
	1. Science Fiction Computers
	2. Interplays
	3. Three Motives
	4. Hive Mind: The Last Evolution
	5. Grey Goo: Autofac
	6. Biocomputing: Blood Music
	7. Mushroom/Cloud/Computing
	8. Alphabetical List of the Mentioned and Cited Fictional Works
	Acknowledgement
	References
21. Always Already Post-Apocalyptic: On the History of Computing
	References
Index