gregjohn escreveu:
> I heard on a math contest the fact that all programs are essentially just big
> numbers.  The compiled binary or even the ASCII for the source may ultimately
> be thought of as just some really big, unique number.  When you buy software,
> they tell you what the number is.

A computer is nothing but a calculator:  everything that goes through it 
is nothing but numbers, including the instructions that manipulate such 
numbers.  Everything has to be converted into numbers before being 
processed by a computer.  Sounds, images and textual information are 
codified/decodified just for convenience. :)

> I was just imagining a scifi novel where The Man has complete control over
> people's computers and the only way to share software (legally/ illegally) is
> to load your car up with bb pellets.  The Man doesn't stop cars and doesn't
> think to check for bb's.   Once you get to the destination, you count bb's, and
> viola, sofware is shared.

More likely The Man won't know any math anymore in the near future:

http://www.themathlab.com/writings/short%20stories/feeling.htm

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