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prime number counting

summary

    The start of message will be indicated by counting prime numbers.

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summary

    The start of message will be indicated by counting prime numbers.

start of message

    It is important that a future alien be able to accurately guess the location of the start of the message, because that contains the keys for decoding the entire message.

counting

    The first part of the message is counting. The obvious candidates are binary (advantage of simplicity and compatibility with the vast majority of modern computers), balanced ternary (advantage of one unique representation for every number and used on Zuse’s first computers), or quater-imaginary (advantage of representing complex numbers, not just real numbers).

    I am going to assume binary for the sake of discussion, but this material will work in the other number systems. Any pair of different signals (preferably opposites) will work for the two binary digits, allowing messages in many different forms.

    The message starts by counting. The two obvious sequences are to count every integer or to count by prime numbers.

    I am recommending the use of counting by integer as a separator between logical blocks of information, as this is the easiest pattern to recognize and would not be likely to be part of the message.

    I am recommending that the counting by prime numbers be the marker for the start of message. This is an easy pattern to recognize and would not be likely to be part of the message. It also distinguishes itself from the more common counting by integers as a separator.

    These are two parts of the message that don’t self-decode, so it is essential that they be easy to spot and solve on their own. I think both patterns are easy to recognize.

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contact

    If you find this interesting and want to contact me, write to Milo, PO Box 5237, Balboa Island, California, 92662, USA.