Comments on: Virtual monkeys write Shakespeare http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/ The official Derren Brown Blog Mon, 07 May 2012 09:24:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: alan http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93536 alan Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:49:09 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93536 a practical test of the thought experiment wouldn't presume that the primates will not simply keep pressing the wrong keys over and over again. Or methodically work their way through every possible combination. a practical test of the thought experiment
wouldn’t presume that the primates will not simply keep pressing the wrong keys over and over again. Or methodically work their way through every possible combination.

]]> By: Boris http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93490 Boris Mon, 03 Oct 2011 06:55:43 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93490 the whole idea is stupid to begin with. it doesn't give us anything useful. the whole idea is stupid to begin with. it doesn’t give us anything useful.

]]> By: Mark http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93394 Mark Thu, 29 Sep 2011 12:50:04 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93394 His blog is documenting the process with videos and transcripts: http://www.jesse-anderson.com/2011/08/a-few-more-million-amazonian-monkeys/ His blog is documenting the process with videos and transcripts: http://www.jesse-anderson.com/2011/08/a-few-more-million-amazonian-monkeys/

]]> By: Alto http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93386 Alto Thu, 29 Sep 2011 09:03:51 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93386 @Mr cheese - You're spot on. When i used to tell people about the million monkeys & typewriters representation of infinity, they would seem to think the monkey's were 'trying' to type shakespeare. With this, people don't understand that every single thing that is possible would be typed, no matter how unlikely. Every single representation of the keys of a keyboard will be typed, so they would also produce the bible, the works of jk rowling, and a haynes manual for a 1994 mondeo. @Mr cheese – You’re spot on. When i used to tell people about the million monkeys & typewriters representation of infinity, they would seem to think the monkey’s were ‘trying’ to type shakespeare. With this, people don’t understand that every single thing that is possible would be typed, no matter how unlikely. Every single representation of the keys of a keyboard will be typed, so they would also produce the bible, the works of jk rowling, and a haynes manual for a 1994 mondeo.

]]> By: Mark http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93383 Mark Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:53:33 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93383 The whole monkey thing, why not ''virtual parrots' or virtual enzynmes with minute fingers or 'virtual illetrate cavemen'? The whole monkey thing, why not ”virtual parrots’ or virtual enzynmes with minute fingers or ‘virtual illetrate cavemen’?

]]> By: Berber Anna http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93380 Berber Anna Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:24:43 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93380 Daneil: He talks about hypnotherapy in his book Tricks of the Mind. He used to dabble in it himself as a student, and in the relevant chapter, he gives a self-hypnosis excercise for dealing with trauma-induced phobias. So I'd say he's fairly positive about it. Daneil: He talks about hypnotherapy in his book Tricks of the Mind. He used to dabble in it himself as a student, and in the relevant chapter, he gives a self-hypnosis excercise for dealing with trauma-induced phobias. So I’d say he’s fairly positive about it.

]]> By: Daneil http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93369 Daneil Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:40:49 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93369 Ok this has nothing to do with the article but does anyone know what Derren Brown's opinion is on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy? Ok this has nothing to do with the article but does anyone know what Derren Brown’s opinion is on the effectiveness of hypnotherapy?

]]> By: Shaun Banks http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93366 Shaun Banks Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:37:18 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93366 Can we use these monkeys to write a new fiscal policy for David Cameron and his gimp Nick Clegg? Anyone remember Monkey Magic Can we use these monkeys to write a new fiscal policy for David Cameron and his gimp Nick Clegg?

Anyone remember Monkey Magic

]]> By: MrCheese http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93359 MrCheese Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:37:35 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93359 "It is also a practical test of the thought experiment that wonders whether an infinite number of monkeys pounding on an infinite number of typewriters would be able to produce Shakespeare’s works by accident." Wrong. It is an example of what infinity can produce. It hasn't be proven wrong at all, it isn't even up for discussion. It doesn't matter how unlikely something is, it will happen given enough time. Of course, this discounts total impossibilities that exist, but there are a lot of things that people would deem impossible, that are not. For example, given enough tries, I could walk through a wall. “It is also a practical test of the thought experiment that wonders whether an infinite number of monkeys pounding on an infinite number of typewriters would be able to produce Shakespeare’s works by accident.”

Wrong. It is an example of what infinity can produce. It hasn’t be proven wrong at all, it isn’t even up for discussion. It doesn’t matter how unlikely something is, it will happen given enough time. Of course, this discounts total impossibilities that exist, but there are a lot of things that people would deem impossible, that are not. For example, given enough tries, I could walk through a wall.

]]> By: Nicholas Finlay http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2011/09/virtual-monkeys-write-shakespeare/#comment-93348 Nicholas Finlay Wed, 28 Sep 2011 07:36:41 +0000 http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/?p=17027#comment-93348 Total non-story and waste of time. Total non-story and waste of time.

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