From: snoswell@ucs.adelaide.edu.au (Michael Snoswell)
Subject: Re: TECH: My standard is better than your standard II
Date: 1 Jul 92 02:00:56 GMT
Organization: Information Technology Division, The University of Adelaide, AUSTRALIA



s047@sand.sics.bu.oz.au (Jeremy Lee) writes to himself(!):


>After a little thinking, I've decided that it should have both a textual
>name, for human consumption, which can be non-unique, and some
>incredible 256bit number which is garunteed to be unique. Perhaps a
>varaible length number to allow for future expansion. The problem is
>that I think every object in the world (as in, the ENTIRE world) should
>be garunteed to have a unique number, so that when messages get sent, in
>an internet-like network, it will eventually find it's way to the
>target object. Like site numbers in a way.

I've been chewing over this unique identifier problem too, but somehow
I can't help but think that there is a much simpler solution that is
lurking just out of reach... I've been using random 32 bit longs in my
code but that's not really satisfying. We need a space-time number
that represents that instant of an objects creation combined with the
location of its creation (based on internet site, computer,
latitude/longitude or something).

On the God issue. I thought about not having one (ie a central
database type thing) and that gives the VW the odd property that when
no-one is connected together (if you know what I mean) or when the
last person disconnectes then the VW ceases to exist! 
Now that really is virtual!

cheers
	Michael Snoswell

-- 

  Michael Snoswell                         snoswell@sirius.ucs.adelaide.edu.au  
  Vision Systems Limited                   08 343 0462                          
  South Australia                          "Profound quote"