The engine exists now as a digital simulation, a million lines of code.

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Ashley Newson, 17, took the top prize in the 14-18 category for SmartSim which is a digital circuit and simulation package for the Pi.

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Another example of the closing gap between the worlds of gaming and grown-up simulation is the decision in May by Digital Sandbox, a supplier of simulation software to America's defence department, to set up a consumer division to make computer games.

ECONOMIST: Serious games

Up top, you'll find indicators for Dolby Headphone, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic IIx and Dolby Digital -- these let you know which surround sound simulation, if any, is currently being pushed to the headset.

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With its military contacts, expertise in anti-terrorism and combat simulation, and all its detailed models of the effects of various weapons, Digital Sandbox realised that it was in a good position to diversify into extremely realistic computer games.

ECONOMIST: Serious games

Rather than discussing the already worn (and to me irrelevant) debate of digital book versus analog book, I talked about future technologies like brain computer interface, real-time simulation and programmable material, and how these will change the face of literature far beyond the Kindle, perhaps eventually eliminating text altogether.

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