Article in New York times

[Ron]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/16/science/16prof.html?_r=1

 

[Faz]

Jessica Fridrich’s strategy for quickly solving the Rubik’s Cube requires using at least 53 algorithms.

??????????

 

[Kian]

fazrulz,

there are only 40 olls and 13 plls if you don't count mirrors.

 

[Faz]

Yes, but it says it requires you to learn them, it doesnt actually require you to learn all of tehm.

 

[Ellis]

If you had to define "The Fridrich Method" one way, wouldn't it involve orienting all last layer cubies in one step? Would you consider a 4LL "The Fridrich Method"?

 

[Lt-UnReaL]

Yes, but it says it requires you to learn them, it doesnt actually require you to learn all of tehm.

Well, it says, "Jessica Fridrich's strategy". So for her own strategy, it requires the use of 53 algs.

EDIT: Never mind, it says it again in different wording in the article. :S

 

[pjk]

Nice article. I'm glad to see it there. Thanks for posting about it.

 

[Tomarse]

Interesting read

 

[Stefan]

"Today I would probably be in 20th or 30th place"

If she multiplies those two numbers, she's about right.
http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=1982FRID01

 

[Ton]

"Today I would probably be in 20th or 30th place"

If she multiplies those two numbers, she's about right.
http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=1982FRID01

lol that was in true in 2004, the speedcubing community went from 119 in 2004 to 3200+ in 2008

I guess Jessica did not follow the huge growth ....

 

[Zava]

or maybe she meant she would be 20-30th in a competition? I don't think so, but this would fit.

 

[fanwuq]

"At first confounded by her techniques, he took a year off from college to learn them while traveling by train through Europe and Asia."
LOL
"She won the championship, solving the cube in less than 23 and a half seconds — a time that would now be laughably long in international competition."
I wouldn't say laughable, but it's good that they acknowledge that it's not a fast time.
"Fridrich Method to work with a technique called “finger pushing,” best used on cubes with joints eased loose by repetitive stress so you can flick their walls instead of grabbing rows to rotate them. Now, Dr. Fridrich said, the cube has been “optimized to death,” and holds little allure — even though she still keeps nearly 20 of the plastic puzzles scattered around her office and home."
WTF? Fingertricks? I wouldn't say optimized to death, has she done FMC?

“She has been far surpassed by speedcubers with records of 14, 13 and 10 seconds, some of whom can solve the cube blindfolded after studying it for less than a minute. “Today I would probably be in 20th or 30th place,” she said. “I am letting it go because I think it’s time for others to succeed.””
Lies! I'd be amazed if she can break top 100. Some can solve blindfolded in less than 1min memo? That's not difficult, 1min in total is difficult.

 

[shelley]

She probably meant 20-30th place at a single competition, which is quite reasonable.

 

[Stefan]

The paragraph however sets the context to records, and there she's over place 600. And in small competitions getting place 20 is meaningless, might even be the last place. Medium competitions are arbitrary. World championship might be meant, but last time place 30 had a 17.14 average, much faster than her official record average of 20.48 which would've given her place 45. Even her single record is 17.12.

My guess is that the article author took this way out of context.

 

[Dene]

My guess is that the article author took this way out of context.

As usual, huh? I mean, the story wouldn't be exciting without twisting the truth!