Maarten Löffler

Date: 16:00 – 17:00, Friday, 18.10.2019
Location: Minnaert – 2.02

Title: Pleaching Pencil & Paper Picture Puzzles
Abstract: Pencil-and-paper puzzles (e.g., Sudoku) are a popular pastime for both children and adults. Their main appeal lies in the logical solving process, but in some genres the puzzler is additionally rewarded when the solved puzzle reveals a picture (e.g., Nonograms). We introduce free-form variants of classic puzzle genres containing non-rectilinear or even curved elements. We study the underlying geometry: what constraints are there on the shapes and location of puzzle elements? How can we measure aspects of puzzles like solvability, difficulty, originality, fun, etc.? Finally, we use these geometric properties to develop automatic generators of puzzles: you draw a picture, and the system gives you a puzzle that solves to that picture.