Describe an object in as few as possible words

[krieger]

Step 1: take an object from your surroundings.

Step 2: describe it as you normally would.

Step 3: look at your description with a critical eye and remove all that is not strictly necessary to give a unique characterization of your object.

Bonus step: Repeat step 3 until you have a set of mathematical variables; preferably as uniform as possible.

Everybody can join in on this exercize; take the steps to the stage you feel you are able. Write out your previous steps if you would like to. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

[Exodus]

clear
glass
roughly cylindrical, rotational symmetry
hollow, with upper face removed and slightly larger than lower face
grooves on inside of sides
m ~= .5 kg
h ~= 15 cm
r ~= 4 cm

This is intriguing - I mean interesting, it's interesting.

[stefana]

Plastic
Opaque ~ 95%
Transparent ~5%
Gap on top for hand to pass through
M.A.C. sign in the middle
Rectangle
Length longer than width

I don't know how to assign these with mathematical values.

/edit

here goes (is this what you mean):

x + x + y + y = z
2x + 2y = z

[krieger]

Very good.

You are all welcome to put a personal spin to your answer.

[krieger]

m ~= .5 kg
h ~= 15 cm
r ~= 4 cm

This is what I'm trying to find out: is it possible to define a dense mathematical set of infinite length that contains all variables that give rise to an object's shape, that has, among legions of other properties, height, mass and whatever r means in your example, as it's constituents?

-- I remember once reading about Gödel doing something similar with mathematical theories/proofs, anyone know anything about that?

[Exodus]

I'm not sure what you mean, but you could just specify the positions of the finite set of particles that compose the object. At least that's the ideal characterization.

As for Godel, is this what you mean?

I'd like to think the universe is discrete and finite. Otherwise we're all doomed, mathematically speaking.

[krieger]

Yes, I was probably getting ahead of myself; it doesn't have to be infinite or dense, just the idea of condensing the expression of shape in a single number seems incredibly appealing... I suspect that the human imagination is somehow driven by a mechanism that makes use of just this thing.

About your particle idea; good thinking, but this would have to be an incredibly data-costly method, which is basically the opposite of what I am looking for.

Also, by the 'shape' of an object I mean only the shape of one elementary part of any object. For example, if I describe a bycicle, I can define all of it's namable parts (wheels, chain, fork, etc.) as elements in the set defining a bycicle (which should correspond to an external field in socionics) and give only the parts themselves a number that assigns their shape.

[Exodus]

About your particle idea; good thinking, but this would have to be an incredibly data-costly method, which is basically the opposite of what I am looking for.

Yeah, I just meant to demonstrate that it was, in principle, possible.

Yes, I was probably getting ahead of myself; it doesn't have to be infinite or dense, just the idea of condensing the expression of shape in a single number seems incredibly appealing... I suspect that the human imagination is somehow driven by a mechanism that makes use of just this thing.

Interesting. I would bet that it's slightly more holistic, however.

[krieger]

Don't let all the geek talk scare you off, good people. This thread is still open to contributions.

[Slacker]

I think I might be completely unable to do this.

Hmmmmm.

Purple
Children's size 10-1/2
Keeps left foot warm and dry

[UDP]

Step 1: take an object from your surroundings.

Step 2: describe it as you normally would.

Step 3: look at your description with a critical eye and remove all that is not strictly necessary to give a unique characterization of your object.

Bonus step: Repeat step 3 until you have a set of mathematical variables; preferably as uniform as possible.

Everybody can join in on this exercize; take the steps to the stage you feel you are able. Write out your previous steps if you would like to. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

blank, yellow, post-it note.

[oyburger]

dried pulp, ink

[eunice]

(What's the purpose of this exercise? )
Anyway,

metallic blue, hard, Phillips brand, buttons, radio.