Google Tech Talks
October 30, 2009

ABSTRACT

Presented by Rob Pike

What is Go?

Go is a new experimental systems programming language intended to make software development fast. Our goal is that a major Google binary should be buildable in a few seconds on a single machine. The language is concurrent, garbage-collected, and requires explicit declaration of dependencies. Simple syntax and a clean type system support a number of programming styles.

For more on Go including FAQs, source code, libraries, and tutorials, please see:

http://golang.org

Generating Trading Agent Strategies
Google engEDU
52 min – Jan 17, 2006

Google TechTalks
January 17, 2006

Daniel M. Reeves

Daniel Reeves recently completed his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Michigan as a student of Michael Wellman and is now (temporarily) a lecturer at Michigan, teaching Knowledge-Based Systems (Lisp, Prolog, and Mathematica for AI Programming). His most active area of research is the application of game-theoretic and computational techniques to strategic behavior in games, particularly for eCommerce-inspired market mechanisms. He is one of the creators of and top competitors in the international Trading Agent Competition. Dr Reeves is also one of the top ultra-marathon inline skaters in the US and climbs stairs competitively.

ABSTRACT
A Strategy Generation Engine is a system that reads a description of a game or market mechanism and outputs strategies for participants. Ideally, this means a game solver—an algorithm to compute Nash equilibria. This is a well-studied problem and very general solutions exist, but they can only be applied to small, finite games. I will present methods for finding or approximating Nash equilibria for infinite games, and for intractably large finite games.
video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5301380251515556722

• Download: “Generating Trading Agent Strategies” (video/mp4)

September 10, 2009 EDIT

Its rather interesting to study the co-notation of Dr Daniel Reeves’ game theory with Poker. Here is a list of expected value for poker hands I found on Google.

Advanced Topics in Programming Languages Series: Python Design Patterns (Part 1)
Google engEDU
59 min – Mar 14, 2007

Google Tech Talks
March 14, 2007

ABSTRACT

Design Patterns must be studied in the context on the language in which they’ll get implemented (the Gang of Four made that point very strongly in their book, though almost everybody else seems not to have noticed:-). This talk explores several categories of classic "elementary" DPs in a Python context — Creational, Masquerading, Adaptation, and Template. Read the rest of this entry »

Sowing the Seeds for a more Creative Society
Google engEDU
54 min – Oct 26, 2006

Google Tech Talks
October 26, 2006

Mitchel Resnick, Professor of Learning Research at the MIT Media Laboratory, develops new technologies and activities to engage people (especially children) in creative learning experiences. Resnicks Lifelong Kindergarten research group developed ideas and technologies underlying the LEGO Mindstorms and PicoCricket construction kits. He co-founded the Computer Clubhouse project, a network of after-school centers where youth from low-income communities learn to express themselves creatively with new technologies. Resnick earned a BA in physics at Princeton University (1978), and MS and PhD degrees in computer science at MIT (1988, 1992). Resnick has consulted throughout the world on the use of computers in education. He is author of Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams (1994), co-editor of Constructionism in Practice (1996), and co-author of Adventures in Modeling (2001).

ABSTRACT
In the 1980s, many people talked about the transition from the "Industrial Society" to the "Information Society." In the 1990s, people began to talk about the "Knowledge Society." But as I see it, we are now in a transition towards the "Creative Society." Success in the future (for individuals, for companies, for nations as a whole) will be based not on what we know or how much we know, but on our ability to think and act creatively. Unfortunately, current educational practices are woefully inadequate. In this talk, I will discuss new technologies and new educational initiatives designed specifically to help children develop as creative thinkers — so that they are prepared for life in the Creative Society. I will focus especially on two projects we are developing at the MIT Media Lab: (1) a new programming language, called Scratch, that makes it easier for kids to create animated stories, games, and interactive art — and share their creations with one another online ( http://scratch.mit.edu), and (2) a new breed of construction kit that combines art and technology, enabling kids to create musical sculptures, interactive jewelry, and other artistic inventions — and learn important math, science, and engineering ideas in the process. For more information, see scratch.mit.edu and www.picocricket.com and llk.media.mit.edu Read the rest of this entry »

Advanced Topics in Programming Languages: Java Puzzlers, Episode VI
Google engEDU
1 hr 14 min – Jul 23, 2007

Google Tech Talks
July 23, 2007

ABSTRACT

Java Puzzlers, Episode VI: The Phantom-Reference Menace/Attack of the Clone/Revenge of the Shift.
Josh Bloch and special guest star Bill Pugh present yet another installment in the continuing saga of Java Puzzlers, consisting of eight more programming puzzles for your entertainment and enlightenment. The game show format keeps you on your toes while the puzzles teach you about the subtleties of the Java programming language and its core libraries. Anyone with a working knowledge of the language will be able to understand the puzzles, but even the most seasoned veterans will be challenged. The lessons you take from this session are directly applicable to your programs and designs. Some of the jokes may even be funny. If you loathed Episodes I–V, you’ll detest Episode VI. Come early, because overripe fruit will, as usual, be given to the first 50 attendees. This is a repeat of a talk given at Google in May and at JavaOne 2007. Read the rest of this entry »