2.04 Chronomentometer 1

Order

2.03

Status

::POLISH::

Location Status

We have permission from the Computer History Museum.

from Gary Matsushita gmatsushita@computerhistory.org
Facilities Staff
On Saturday evening, Feb 11, between 11:00 pm and 2:00 am, 4 vans with approx 20 people will station themselves in our parking lot as one stop of their travelling puzzle hunt.  I’ve okayed their request to park in the lot and “solve” a piece of their game in their vans.  There will be no access or impact to the building itself.  This e-mail is just an FYI to the team.
Should any issue arise, the contacts for the group are:
Wei-Hwa Huang 580-789-9530
Erik Stuart  650-345-4304

GC Point of Contact

?

Location Notes

A suitable south-bay geeky location (Computer History Museum, etc.)

Type

Mandatory Puzzle

Plot Setup

The previous activity revealed that the time machine's chronomentometer is malfunctioning. Luckily Doctor When is an expert on such matters -- he did his dissertation on the topic. Unfortunately he's not an implementation expert. So the team is sent out in search of one.

Props

• Four sets of hex tiles per team
• Sheet with Act II GC phone number and email address
• Act II View-O-Scope Computer Remote Access Program

Plot Point to Convey

• Doctor When can't design himself because he is good on theory; only Prof. Chronos was driven to implement.
• Help of another expert is needed.
• Once done, the machine is closer to being fixed.

Short Description

The players need to help Doctor When design a new quantum chronomentometer.

Detailed Description

Jigsaw puzzle with constraints. Physical pieces given to players to model the "real" one in the time machine, along with four partial maps on paper. They submit their completed arrangements to lab staff, who will confirm the solution.

How To Give To Teams

In person lab assistant says words to the effect of (lines on pp. 31-32 of script):

Doctor When could use your help with the chronomentometer. It turns out we blew four of our hundreds of modules and so we need four new designs. Unfortunately his expertise is mainly in the theoretical realm. Only Prof. Chronos was truly driven to implement a working device.

But luckily there's a nearby expert in applied chronodynamics who just may be able to help you. Please go to the Computer History Museum at 1401 N Shoreline Blvd in Mountain View. There you will be able to get some design kits and specifications for the new modules, which you can use to design new ones.

There's some extra notes at peachfrontier.com/cmm/. As you design each one, enter the information on our website. When we have gotten all four designs to work, we'll give you a call. If you have any trouble with your design call (650) 395-TIME and one of the lab assistants may be able to help.

Oh...and take this disk with you. It contains software for remote access to the time machine's View-O-Scope...if we ever get that working again.

Lab assistant hands out instruction sheet and disk.

SUPPLEMENTAL EMAIL

Research Project Title: Chronomentometer

Objective: Design replacements for the four broken quantum chronomentometers

Location: Computer History Museum, 1401 N Shoreline Blvd Mountain View

Upon Completion: As you complete the designs, enter them at http://peachfrontier.com/cmm/.

Parking: Lot

Bathrooms At Location: No

Food At Location: No

Teams then travel to location.

At next location GC staff hand out puzzle.

Puzzle Answer

Correctly configured mentomenters, represented by an alphanumeric sequence.

Puzzle Solution

Each set consists of unique hexaxgonal 4-ominoes (and some 3-ominoes) that tesselate into the Trenchwood "T" logo shape. For each puzzle sheet, some of the pieces are given fixed positions, and the others must be figured out.

Budget

 Scrap Acrylic, about 2.2 puzzles per $1 sheet = $58
 Printer Ink = $9 (est.)
 Label Stock, about 1.9 puzzles per $0.4 sheet = $26

Manager

Wei-Hwa

Response to Correct Answer

GC emails team

Dear team _________,

Your new design for a quantum chronomentometer module worked! Thank you so much.

Doctor When is tied up in calculations. But he taped instructions on what he needs you to do next. We don't have the View-O-Scope working well enough to view the past. But it can patch you into his recording. Please go to launch the Computer Remote Access Program and enter access code XXXX.

Frank Farnok,

Lab Assistant

Note that there is a second follow-up email that must be sent shortly afterwards. Its canned text with the supplemental research project information is in the Mix Tape entry.

lay==To Do==

• Determine which 4 randomly-generated puzzles are appropriate for training

Playtest used: 87 50 134 104
Considering:  132 58 30 23

Other Notes

This is a "trainer" puzzle for a series of them appearing later in the act.