On Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:02:52 +0100, "Skybuck Flying"
<IntoTheFuture@hotmail.com> wrote:

Suppose we humans start living in computers, and then we sent computers into 
space containing us...

Maybe back in time... then we encounter those computers.

Without actually having seen a computer we would think it was a dead piece 
of metal.

While in reality there was "life" inside the computer.

Therefore when we explore the universe we should be carefull before we say 
that something is dead...

It might appear to be dead... but there could be a whole information system 
going on inside of it ! ;)

(Life is probably mostly about "loops/circles" be it physically or in an 
information system ;))

Bye,
 Skybuck. 

Are you using the standard definition for life here? Life has the
potential for reproduction of itself and for reacting to a stimulus. 

A bi-metallic strip can react to the stimulus of a change in
temperature, but I don't think this would serve as an indication of
life.

 I would agree that a computer can react to the stimulus of someone
touching the keys on the keyboard and other input means, but I don't
grasp the idea that computers could ever reproduce themselves.

Gordon