Talk:Clacks - Revision history

Old Dickens: remove dead link

2022-04-19T16:15:50Z

remove dead link

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:15, 19 April 2022
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	Please add comments, solutions, or just more questions here to see if we can produce a workable model. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 13:04, 19 May 2008 (UTC)		Please add comments, solutions, or just more questions here to see if we can produce a workable model. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 13:04, 19 May 2008 (UTC)

	~~: Here's ours: [http://blip.tv/file/4906971 Clacks, phase I]. ''(Unsigned comment by [[User:76.191.219.152\|76.191.219.152]] at 18:55, 20 March 2011)''~~

	==Optical==		==Optical==

Stevehim: /* Six Shutters? */ fifth elephant reference

2017-02-07T07:48:52Z

Six Shutters?: fifth elephant reference

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:48, 7 February 2017
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	***Not unless someone can find a mention of a six-panel array somewhere in the text. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 14:07, 19 May 2008 (UTC)		***Not unless someone can find a mention of a six-panel array somewhere in the text. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 14:07, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
	**** Well, I don't know whether it's anything to go by, but the Clacks Board Game (that's just arrived!) uses 6 shutters. Must say though I was under the impression it was 8 - but I expect that's something I've assumed due to the power of the number. Also, as far as I can tell, they haven't included details on sending numbers, and I can't help but think theres far more combinations of lights possible than they display. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 12:28, 21 October 2015 (UTC) Just found an [http://geeksyndicate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pic1670734.jpg image of the Clacks Alphabet] used in the game. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 13:44, 21 October 2015 (UTC)		**** Well, I don't know whether it's anything to go by, but the Clacks Board Game (that's just arrived!) uses 6 shutters. Must say though I was under the impression it was 8 - but I expect that's something I've assumed due to the power of the number. Also, as far as I can tell, they haven't included details on sending numbers, and I can't help but think theres far more combinations of lights possible than they display. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 12:28, 21 October 2015 (UTC) Just found an [http://geeksyndicate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pic1670734.jpg image of the Clacks Alphabet] used in the game. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 13:44, 21 October 2015 (UTC)
			** The one Vetinari is watching in The Fifth Elephant has 7a (though Pratchett actually wrote out the number, which might be an oversight, but I'm prepared to accept it means that Vetinari's mind doesn't fear the Soul Eater :) ). Reference is on pg 48 in my copy...the section begins: Lord Vetinari stood at his window, ... The Fifth Elephant --[[User:Stevehim\|Stevehim]] ([[User talk:Stevehim\|talk]]) 07:48, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

	==Practical Matters==		==Practical Matters==

Stevehim: /* Semaphore */ new section

2017-02-07T07:38:30Z

Semaphore: new section

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:38, 7 February 2017
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	You know you've got the Disc on you're mind when you see that county name and automatically read it as "Clacksmanshire", and get little visions of a place, probably up towards the Ramtops or Chalk, where Clacksmen might retire to or take a break from the whistling winds and dizzying heights of the towers. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 13:21, 21 October 2015 (UTC)		You know you've got the Disc on you're mind when you see that county name and automatically read it as "Clacksmanshire", and get little visions of a place, probably up towards the Ramtops or Chalk, where Clacksmen might retire to or take a break from the whistling winds and dizzying heights of the towers. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 13:21, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

			== Semaphore ==

			Is it worth noting that semaphore was around for centuries in Discworld? --[[User:Stevehim\|Stevehim]] ([[User talk:Stevehim\|talk]]) 07:38, 7 February 2017 (UTC)

GallifreyanWitch: /* Six Shutters? */

2015-10-21T13:44:12Z

Six Shutters?

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:44, 21 October 2015
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	**that would indicated that maybe shutter numbers are not static or that we have a continuity mistake --[[User:Lord rel\|Lord rel]] 13:51 05 June 2007		**that would indicated that maybe shutter numbers are not static or that we have a continuity mistake --[[User:Lord rel\|Lord rel]] 13:51 05 June 2007
	***Not unless someone can find a mention of a six-panel array somewhere in the text. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 14:07, 19 May 2008 (UTC)		***Not unless someone can find a mention of a six-panel array somewhere in the text. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 14:07, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
	**** Well, I don't know whether it's anything to go by, but the Clacks Board Game (that's just arrived!) uses 6 shutters. Must say though I was under the impression it was 8 - but I expect that's something I've assumed due to the power of the number. Also, as far as I can tell, they haven't included details on sending numbers, and I can't help but think theres far more combinations of lights possible than they display. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 12:28, 21 October 2015 (UTC)		**** Well, I don't know whether it's anything to go by, but the Clacks Board Game (that's just arrived!) uses 6 shutters. Must say though I was under the impression it was 8 - but I expect that's something I've assumed due to the power of the number. Also, as far as I can tell, they haven't included details on sending numbers, and I can't help but think theres far more combinations of lights possible than they display. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 12:28, 21 October 2015 (UTC) Just found an [http://geeksyndicate.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/pic1670734.jpg image of the Clacks Alphabet] used in the game. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 13:44, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

	==Practical Matters==		==Practical Matters==

GallifreyanWitch: /* A little crossover with Roundworld? */ new section

2015-10-21T13:21:19Z

A little crossover with Roundworld?: new section

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:21, 21 October 2015
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	I think what's called "Light Clacks" here is actually a one-bit optical telegraph, unrelated to the Clacks. --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 22:40, 16 June 2010 (UTC)		I think what's called "Light Clacks" here is actually a one-bit optical telegraph, unrelated to the Clacks. --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 22:40, 16 June 2010 (UTC)
	*Oh right. Well the characters call it a light clacks in the text, so just assumed. I notice you've grouped it under "Earlier Semaphore" now; it is mentioned after the Clacks introduction in {{TFE}}, but then it could still easily be older technology. Here's the reference if you want to check: ''Monstrous Regiment, Page 137 (Doubleday UK Hardback)''. [[User:JaffaCakeLover\|JaffaCakeLover]] 10:08, 21 June 2010 (UTC)		*Oh right. Well the characters call it a light clacks in the text, so just assumed. I notice you've grouped it under "Earlier Semaphore" now; it is mentioned after the Clacks introduction in {{TFE}}, but then it could still easily be older technology. Here's the reference if you want to check: ''Monstrous Regiment, Page 137 (Doubleday UK Hardback)''. [[User:JaffaCakeLover\|JaffaCakeLover]] 10:08, 21 June 2010 (UTC)

			== A little crossover with Roundworld? ==

			While doing a little search about the Clacks on Google, I noticed some entries coming up with "ClacksWeb".
			Unfortunately this is not a website dedicated to the workings of the Clacks, as I was hoping to find, but is the website associated with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clackmannanshire Clackmannanshire], Britain's Smallest Historic County, located in Scotland. It is otherwise known as "The Wee County" (which naturally brought Feegles to mind) and is usually abbreviated to simply "Clacks".

			You know you've got the Disc on you're mind when you see that county name and automatically read it as "Clacksmanshire", and get little visions of a place, probably up towards the Ramtops or Chalk, where Clacksmen might retire to or take a break from the whistling winds and dizzying heights of the towers. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 13:21, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

GallifreyanWitch: /* Optical */

2015-10-21T12:41:16Z

Optical

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:41, 21 October 2015
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	:In Jingo, Lord Rust has a telescope, which he claims was only invented the previous year. Of course, the Klatchians have had them for ages. Every reason therefore to expect the Clacks had telescopes.--[[User:Solicitr\|Solicitr]] 13:24, 28 March 2010 (UTC)		:In Jingo, Lord Rust has a telescope, which he claims was only invented the previous year. Of course, the Klatchians have had them for ages. Every reason therefore to expect the Clacks had telescopes.--[[User:Solicitr\|Solicitr]] 13:24, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

			:: According to the Clacks Boardgame yes, they do use telescopes. It also states the distance between towers is around 20 Miles - so based on the above analysis you'd definitely need good lenses. In Raising Steam, Adora mentions every clacksman is equipped with "a very expensive pair of Herr Fleiss's binoculars, made using the very best Uberwald technology". --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 12:41, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

	==Mechanical==		==Mechanical==

GallifreyanWitch: /* Six Shutters? */

2015-10-21T12:28:36Z

Six Shutters?

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:28, 21 October 2015
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	**that would indicated that maybe shutter numbers are not static or that we have a continuity mistake --[[User:Lord rel\|Lord rel]] 13:51 05 June 2007		**that would indicated that maybe shutter numbers are not static or that we have a continuity mistake --[[User:Lord rel\|Lord rel]] 13:51 05 June 2007
	***Not unless someone can find a mention of a six-panel array somewhere in the text. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 14:07, 19 May 2008 (UTC)		***Not unless someone can find a mention of a six-panel array somewhere in the text. - --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] 14:07, 19 May 2008 (UTC)
			**** Well, I don't know whether it's anything to go by, but the Clacks Board Game (that's just arrived!) uses 6 shutters. Must say though I was under the impression it was 8 - but I expect that's something I've assumed due to the power of the number. Also, as far as I can tell, they haven't included details on sending numbers, and I can't help but think theres far more combinations of lights possible than they display. --[[User:GallifreyanWitch\|Verity]] ([[User talk:GallifreyanWitch\|talk]]) 12:28, 21 October 2015 (UTC)

	==Practical Matters==		==Practical Matters==

Old Dickens: oh, yeah

2014-06-01T23:58:46Z

oh, yeah

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:58, 1 June 2014
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	Is there a reference to the shape of the array? Do we know if it's 1x8, 2x4 etc? Not that it makes a huge difference, but a 1x8 array would imply binary encoding. I've known people to be able to read a binary stream almost as fast as normal text.		Is there a reference to the shape of the array? Do we know if it's 1x8, 2x4 etc? Not that it makes a huge difference, but a 1x8 array would imply binary encoding. I've known people to be able to read a binary stream almost as fast as normal text.

	A 1x8 would have heavy unusable redundancy. There are eight versions of "one light on" each indistinguishable from each other, and, erm, 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 versions of "two lights on". A rectangular array removes a lot of redundancy, you get two-side-by-side, two-up-down, two-left-diagonal, two-right-diagonal, etc.		A 1x8 would have heavy unusable redundancy. There are eight versions of "one light on" each indistinguishable from each other, and, erm, 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 versions of "two lights on". A rectangular array removes a lot of redundancy, you get two-side-by-side, two-up-down, two-left-diagonal, two-right-diagonal, etc. (unsigned comment by [[User:Jgharston]], 1 Jun 2014)
			:Now it occurs to me that the ninth panel above the array mentioned in {{MR}} might be just a visual reference to locate the pattern below, rather than a parity bit or other coding function. --[[User:Old Dickens\|Old Dickens]] ([[User talk:Old Dickens\|talk]]) 23:58, 1 June 2014 (UTC)

	==Digital==		==Digital==

Jgharston: /* Mechanical */

2014-06-01T10:05:41Z

Mechanical

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:05, 1 June 2014
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	Is there a reference to the shape of the array? Do we know if it's 1x8, 2x4 etc? Not that it makes a huge difference, but a 1x8 array would imply binary encoding. I've known people to be able to read a binary stream almost as fast as normal text.		Is there a reference to the shape of the array? Do we know if it's 1x8, 2x4 etc? Not that it makes a huge difference, but a 1x8 array would imply binary encoding. I've known people to be able to read a binary stream almost as fast as normal text.

	A 1x8 would have heavy unusable redundancy. There are eight versions of "one light on" each indistinguishable from each other, and, erm, ~~7x6x5x4x3x2~~ versions of "two lights on". A rectangular array removes a lot of redundancy, you get two-side-by-side, two-up-down, two-left-diagonal, two-right-diagonal, etc.		A 1x8 would have heavy unusable redundancy. There are eight versions of "one light on" each indistinguishable from each other, and, erm, 7+6+5+4+3+2+1 versions of "two lights on". A rectangular array removes a lot of redundancy, you get two-side-by-side, two-up-down, two-left-diagonal, two-right-diagonal, etc.

	==Digital==		==Digital==

Jgharston: /* Mechanical */

2014-06-01T10:04:51Z

Mechanical

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:04, 1 June 2014
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	Is there a reference to the shape of the array? Do we know if it's 1x8, 2x4 etc? Not that it makes a huge difference, but a 1x8 array would imply binary encoding. I've known people to be able to read a binary stream almost as fast as normal text.		Is there a reference to the shape of the array? Do we know if it's 1x8, 2x4 etc? Not that it makes a huge difference, but a 1x8 array would imply binary encoding. I've known people to be able to read a binary stream almost as fast as normal text.

			A 1x8 would have heavy unusable redundancy. There are eight versions of "one light on" each indistinguishable from each other, and, erm, 7x6x5x4x3x2 versions of "two lights on". A rectangular array removes a lot of redundancy, you get two-side-by-side, two-up-down, two-left-diagonal, two-right-diagonal, etc.

	==Digital==		==Digital==