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Subject: 
Re: Mathematical proof that you can't build anything with LEGO bricks
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.general
Date: 
Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:48:43 GMT
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In lugnet.general, Don Rogerson wrote:
   Dr. Mark Changizi claims that LEGO sets have reached a point where most of the pieces no longer fit other pieces. Sound crazy? Wait - there’s math...

http://discovermagazine.com/2012/jan-feb/02-how-did-lego-lose-its-mojo

I’ve actually had an open conversation with Dr. Changizi about this article and the original paper on which he bases his conclusions. He has made some claims that are not supported by his research or by common observation, and his method of classifying LEGO piece types is suspect.

Wondering what others think of this article.

Here’s a link to the original research paper: http://www.changizi.com/org.pdf

He says “LEGOs” which makes his work suspect right there. :) Not very rigorous. The paper is from 2001... the piece palette has improved somewhat since then.

But generally I’m not sure he’s drawing valid inferences/conclusions. LEGO elements are not neurons, or electronic components, and total network connectivity is not their most important metric. Rather, at least in my view, what is important is whether pieces interoperate well with each other locally. And we know they do. There are more ways to interconnect LEGO elements than any other building system I know.



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: Mathematical proof that you can't build anything with LEGO bricks
 
(...) Have you accounted for the Galidor factor? (12 years ago, 27-Feb-12, to lugnet.general, FTX)
  Re: Mathematical proof that you can't build anything with LEGO bricks
 
(...) He would argue that the increase in the number of new types of pieces is actually an indication that the LEGO system is getting less flexible. But as you say, the system is designed so that every piece connects to at least one other piece (...) (12 years ago, 27-Feb-12, to lugnet.general, FTX)

Message is in Reply To:
  Mathematical proof that you can't build anything with LEGO bricks
 
Dr. Mark Changizi claims that LEGO sets have reached a point where most of the pieces no longer fit other pieces. Sound crazy? Wait - there's math... (URL) I've actually had an open conversation with Dr. Changizi about this article and the original (...) (12 years ago, 26-Feb-12, to lugnet.general, FTX)

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