If you want to confuse yourself, then the next time you look at a mobile, imagine what four-dimensional object, if spun through three dimensions, would look like that mobile.
But is it possible for a human to percieve four dimensions?
What if it’s just something we made up?
Isn’t whatever we call the fourth dimension supposed to be time?
If that were the case, I guess I could imagine what it would look like, but I’m not sure how worthwhile it would be.
The idea boils down to using the time dimension we know as a way to represent a fourth spatial dimension that we are not accustomed to.
The mathematical representation of a four (spatial) dimensional object is easy enough, you use four coordinates (w, x, y, z) instead of three (x, y, z). But are these “higher” dimensions meaningful?
It turns out we are probably in a universe of many spatial dimensions plus time, but where we don’t experience most of those dimensions–they are wrapped in on themselves very, very tightly, like looking at a straw that is so small it looks like a line.
An idea popularized by R.A.Heinlein in the 50′s(ish) with one of his nice-n’-bold stories helps this 4D mobile idea:
A man invented a device that could trace the history of a human (it has more important consequences, but I dare not spoil the story) by tracing her unique electric impulse back through time. This was visually rendered for the reader as looking at that human’s history as a very long and (sometimes) pink temporal worm stretched out from present backward to mother, back to her mother, etc. That’s one long worm!
I make his idea sound a little smaller and more mitochondrial than it really is, but it’s basically correct; see time as making all your actions in the past hour turn you into a worm slinking through time and you will see what is meant easily enough.
The story is called Lifeline, and it’s collected in Expanded Universe. It was also collected in The Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein in 1966, but I’m pretty sure that one’s out of print. Expanded Universe is more recent and contains more of his work, anyway.
I have yet to read R.A.H’s “story” but is it even possible to trace the “history of human” by tracing her unique electric impulse back through time?
would it really be her story or “his”story?
I am really interested in reading R.A.H’s story so I would understand how such electric impulses are purportedly traced and how “unique” they really are.
Do voice synthesizers/changers use the same electric impulses?
If you want to confuse yourself, then the next time you look at a mobile, imagine what four dimensional object, if spun through three dimensions, would look like that mobile.
remarkable.
My brain just melted a little
But is it possible for a human to percieve four dimensions?
What if it’s just something we made up?
Isn’t whatever we call the fourth dimension supposed to be time?
If that were the case, I guess I could imagine what it would look like, but I’m not sure how worthwhile it would be.
You might find this interesting: http://www.dimensions-math.org/Dim_E.htm
The idea boils down to using the time dimension we know as a way to represent a fourth spatial dimension that we are not accustomed to.
The mathematical representation of a four (spatial) dimensional object is easy enough, you use four coordinates (w, x, y, z) instead of three (x, y, z). But are these “higher” dimensions meaningful?
It turns out we are probably in a universe of many spatial dimensions plus time, but where we don’t experience most of those dimensions–they are wrapped in on themselves very, very tightly, like looking at a straw that is so small it looks like a line.
Thanks for your comments :)
An idea popularized by R.A.Heinlein in the 50′s(ish) with one of his nice-n’-bold stories helps this 4D mobile idea:
A man invented a device that could trace the history of a human (it has more important consequences, but I dare not spoil the story) by tracing her unique electric impulse back through time. This was visually rendered for the reader as looking at that human’s history as a very long and (sometimes) pink temporal worm stretched out from present backward to mother, back to her mother, etc. That’s one long worm!
I make his idea sound a little smaller and more mitochondrial than it really is, but it’s basically correct; see time as making all your actions in the past hour turn you into a worm slinking through time and you will see what is meant easily enough.
More reasons to read R.A.H.!
and what specific story is that?
The story is called Lifeline, and it’s collected in Expanded Universe. It was also collected in The Worlds of Robert A. Heinlein in 1966, but I’m pretty sure that one’s out of print. Expanded Universe is more recent and contains more of his work, anyway.
I have yet to read R.A.H’s “story” but is it even possible to trace the “history of human” by tracing her unique electric impulse back through time?
would it really be her story or “his”story?
I am really interested in reading R.A.H’s story so I would understand how such electric impulses are purportedly traced and how “unique” they really are.
Do voice synthesizers/changers use the same electric impulses?
If you want to confuse yourself, then the next time you look at a mobile, imagine what four dimensional object, if spun through three dimensions, would look like that mobile.
Why would I wanna confuse myself?
Would the light do?
or the computer?
or the wires?
this is incredible.
I’m already confused by the world around me.
I find mobiles calming.