New preprint on arXiv: "Dynamic Maintenance of Low-Stretch Probabilistic Tree Embeddings with Applications" (https://arxiv.org/abs/2004.10319). This is joint work with Gramoz Goranci and Monika Henzinger.

We show how to maintain Bartal-style tree embeddings of undirected graphs undergoing edge insertions and deletions. We obtain certain trade-offs for polylogarithmic expected stretch and sublinear update-time.

Although Conway might not have been too happy with his name being eternally connected with the Game of Life, it still is fascinating that the Game's emergent patterns can be tamed to obtain a Turing complete machine. In class, I did a short "proof by video" of Turing completeness. Starting with the Gosper glider gun, one can create gadgets for logic gates. These can then be plugged together to simulate the von Neumann architecture. Detailed explanation by Nicolas Loizeau: https://www.nicolasloizeau.com/gol-computer

I just attended my first "webinar" as a panelist.

The topic was "crisis and digitalization: social innovation?" (my translation). It was organized by Josef Strobl, head of the geoinformatics department here, as a reaction to current events for students of an interdisciplinary curriculum on digitalization, innovation, and society in Salzburg.

Beyond current trends, can digitalization lead to a "good life for all"? At least we should work towards it, so the panelists...

The backup plan for DISC this year is postponing or holding a virtual conference.

The submission deadline is May, 14. Here is the CfP: http://www.disc-conference.org/wp/disc2020/call-for-papers/

I'm doing slidecasts with OBS studio now. I'm very satisfied with this software so far.

@citc@scholar.social @Cyborgneticz Thanks for the info! Is there a website where this is running as a free service, comparable to Jitsi Meet?

Please don't get me wrong, of course I know that it would be the universities' responsibility to provide solutions that work. However, this hasn't happened and now it's too late to roll out something. We need something that literally can be used today... Unfortunately, many of my colleagues are turning to the well-known silos these days, but I also don't see a solution.

@citc@scholar.social @Cyborgneticz I tried to run a class with Jitsi Meet yesterday. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend it at this point (and I definitely wish I could!). It certainly didn't scale well with 40-50 students because iit lagged too much. I then did two groups with around 20 students being connected at the same time. I then had a much better experience myself, but a few students still complained that they often had to reconnect to hear me again. (Could of course also be a problem on their side.)

As a precautionary measures against COVID-19, there will be no physical lectures and seminars at University of Salzburg for the next weeks. We are trying to figure out ways to keep our courses running as smoothly as possible nonetheless.

I will for example be available for virtual office hours via matrix/riot.im as @forster:matrix.org during the next weeks.

Did some examples of Turing machines in class today. I found a very nice online simulator that I like in particular because it allows specifying the rules of the Turing machine in a point-and-click manner: http://turingmachine.vassar.edu