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It is possible for gliders to interact with other objects in interesting ways. For example, if two gliders are shot at a block in just the right way, the block will move closer to the source of the gliders. If three gliders are shot in just the right way, the block will move farther away. This "sliding block memory" can be used to simulate a counter. | It is possible for gliders to interact with other objects in interesting ways. For example, if two gliders are shot at a block in just the right way, the block will move closer to the source of the gliders. If three gliders are shot in just the right way, the block will move farther away. This "sliding block memory" can be used to simulate a counter. | ||
[[File:Sliding block memory Snapshot.png|400px|left|thumb|Sliding block memory snapshot (Hickerson, 1990)]] [[File:Sliding block memory Scheme.png|400px|left|thumb|Sliding block memory schematic (Hickerson, 1990)]] | |||
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A sliding block memory pattern was constructed by Hickerson, 1990. It uses several constructions which generate gliders at intervals of 120 generations. This is based on the period 30 Gosper gun. These guns fire salvoes of gliders at a block. The sliding block memory uses a salvo of two gliders to decrement the counter by moving it diagonally one space closer. Three gliders are used to increment it by pushing it further away. An additional glider is sent across the pattern during the decrement. This is deleted by the decrement operation when the block is decremented to zero. | A sliding block memory pattern was constructed by Hickerson, 1990. It uses several constructions which generate gliders at intervals of 120 generations. This is based on the period 30 Gosper gun. These guns fire salvoes of gliders at a block. The sliding block memory uses a salvo of two gliders to decrement the counter by moving it diagonally one space closer. Three gliders are used to increment it by pushing it further away. An additional glider is sent across the pattern during the decrement. This is deleted by the decrement operation when the block is decremented to zero. | ||
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