[Tutor] what's a state machine?

[Jeff Shannon]

R. Alan Monroe wrote:

>>You then define numeric values(or hash keys) for each state
>>and each event, load pointers/rferences to functions into
>>the action column
>>    
>>
>
>Does that work when you have multiple concurrent states, like
>simultaneouly Walking and ChewingGum at the same time?
>  
>

Yes, if you define a states walking, chewing_gum, and 
walking_and_chewing_gum.  Any valid combination of other states can be 
seen as a single state itself.  This could lead to a combinatoric 
explosion in the number of possible states, and may not be the most 
efficient way to implement the state machine, but it can be done.

Jeff Shannon
Technician/Programmer
Credit International