In Quest…

Donald KNUTH, Professor of Stanford University, Turing Prize winner (USA)

The work of our symposium approaches the end. Most of the talks have been delivered; a general
discussion has taken place. Representatives of each country stated the essence of their understanding
of the discussed subjects. Sometimes new opinions in interpretation of the notion of algorithm were
expressed, some new models were proposed, some concepts allowing to more fully develop the
notion of algorithm as applied to new conditions.

Together with purely theoretical questions, numerous practical issues are being considered (talks by
Dutch scientist A. vanWijngaarden, Professor Yu. Manin).

In my opinion, it is of great use for those studying the theory of algorithms that the forum is being
held here in Khorezm – a place where the notion of algorithm was conceived. Your land should
become a kind of Mecca for specialists in computer engineering.

Algorithm is a method giving a computer some ways of problem solving. And representatives of our
field see their goal in the most extensive introduction of various “smart” machines into everyday
life, to make them as common as TV or tape recorder…

It might seem strange, but the main raw material for computers production is… sand. And this
means low prices. In future, to make domestic computers even less expensive, scientists intend to

find and use a number of new raw materials.