Stuff for Students

• An awe-inspiring talk by an MIT-ian, telling us future that he sees for us.

Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology

One can see many ways Pranav connects computer to the reality and the other way round. It reflects many places where the study of software engineering, algorithmics etc. has been applied in practice in his work, and could be used for many more innovative practical and, perhaps, socially drives causes.

(Inspiration: Software Engineering; Using software for developing products that would transform our lives altogether. )

• Choosing between the gateway of Heaven and Hell: A logical puzzle

Assume you standing on the gates of Heaven and Hell. Both identical and guarded by similar looking gatekeepers (with big mustaches, if you wish!).

One of these gatekeepers always "lies" and the other one always speaks the "truth"; but, of course, you don't know which one is which. Additionally, you also don't have any idea about which gatekeeper is standing on which gate*.

You can ask only one question ("lifeline?", or is it after-death-line?! :) ). The choice of " which of the two gatekeepers would you ask the question is left to you.

The question is how (by asking which question, to which gatekeeper, etc??) would you be able to make out "which gate is of Haven and which one is that of Hell"?

(This question popped up while teaching Discrete Mathematics to students of MCA-I. It's an old and interesting logical puzzle. Logic, binary nature, possibility of using notations of set theory while solving the puzzle made me introduce this to the class.)

*I had initially missed this statement while stating the puzzle in the class for the first time. My apologies.

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