Magic and Computers

[CB]

No: HPFGUIDX 30379

This is what my Lurking Hubby had to say on the topic...


>Too cool.
>
>Here is my response:
>
>The idea that magic in the HP universe uses an automata model makes a lot
>of sense.
>
>For instance, a lot of the classes involve  practicing what seem to be
>simple movements and incantations repeatedly until you get it  'just
>right'.  The number of variations for such simple actions are finite, I'd
>think. I mean, how many ways can you swish, flick and say 'wingardum
>leviOSa'? And Lockheart talks about being really good at memory charms. But
>all it is is a wave and "Obliviate". Just how much skill can go into that?
>
>However, look at it from a rudimentary programming perspective. You have
>the basic ability to use magic, but magical training as a rough way of
>creating 'programs' that focus magical will. In this scheme, the wand is
>important because it works as a sort of magical compiler. By learning the
>basic Charms through the focus of the wand, you integrate those magical
>actions into your subconscious. Then, more complex spells can call those
>basic elements to create larger effects by working in tandem. That would
>explain why even difficult spells can be activated using a simple wave and
>incantation. As you add more skills, you can build bigger spells. And as
>you build these things into your subconscious, you cn call them without the
>need for an incantation, wave or even a wand.
>
>Now. you can brute force your way to a spell buy just trying things. That
>would be a sort of 'magical research'. But it would be limited in the fact
>that it requires you to figure out the entire path manually.
>
>This also explains magic without training - it is a sort of intuitive brute
>force or guess. This is why it happens erratically - the subconscious can't
>always figure out some way to get it to work.
>
>As for the primitive functions in magic, they could be anything and
>extensive. Maybe magical research includes discovering the m,agical
>instruction set as well as ways of embedding them into the subconscious.
>
>If things to work that way, and magic includes some basic metamagic
>functions (can a spell trigger another spell, for instance), it is posible
>to define a magical programming language which could benefit from automata
>theory. For examples of that sort of thing (and a good source of all these
>sorts of ideas), look into the novel _The Wiz Biz_ by Rick Cook.

Eleri Hamilton
Chronological Grownup
"Honestly woman, and you call yourself our mother!"