I tend to use the word "algorithm" to mean processes that are guaranteed to stop. Anything that's not guaranteed to stop is simply a "process". The process below may or may not have a guaranteed stop, depending on how it's implemented[*]. If you had not said "ask dad" and "dad says", then it would more directly imply its implementation. But the way you've described it sounds like it has parallel processes (me versus dad), in which case, I might wait for dad's response forever (because dad is in an infinite loop or perhaps there's a comm. failure... whatever).
[*] Definiteness (definitude?) is not simple! 8^) On 07/06/2016 11:33 AM, Nick Thompson wrote: > I assume that the following is NOT a program in your sense. > > ;;Compute the sum of 2 and 2;;. > > Begin > Ask Dad, "Dad, what is the sum of 2 and 2? > Dad says, "Four" > Four > End. > > It is, however, an algorithm, right? -- ☢ glen ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
