Re: [Phys-L] how research is done : exploring a maze using only local information

[John Denker <jsd@av8n.com>]

The recent discussion has led me to clarify my thinking
about how research is done ... and to upgrade my maze
game to make it a more faithful model.

On 09/15/2015 11:35 AM, I wrote:
>   I could easily modify
>   the game to ensure that you would need a more sophisticated 
>   algorithm.  I'm tempted to do this, in order to more faithfully
>   model the scientific process, i.e. to require decision-making 
>   and record-keeping.

Done.

In the current version of the maze program, some instances of
the game can be solved using Harvey's wall-banger algorithm
... but some cannot.  Sometimes the maze has islands, and
sometimes the cheese is hiding on one of the islands.

Also I updated the writeup to discuss this point.

Also I updated the writeup to discuss, briefly, the idea of
the degree of connectivity of a node.

=========

In addition, I added some discussion (with examples) of the 
following distinction:

 ++ It is wise, and indeed necessary, to take some well-calculated risks. 
 -- It is unwise to take uncalculated or poorly-calculated risks.

  https://www.av8n.com/physics/research-maze.htm#sec-harvey
or equivalently
  http://www.av8n.com/physics/research-maze.htm#sec-harvey