I have a university degree in Computer Science and a Master degree in Artificial Intelligence (Machine Learning). I also have a Ph.D. in Neural Networks and Theory of Computation, where I studied the connections between classical Theory of Computation and the field of Neural Computation to integrate symbolic and sub-symbolic computations into an homogeneous neural net architecture (check the PhD's page about NETDEF).
You can also check my current list of publications. My email: jpn A.T. di.fc.ul.pt.
My articles at
Google Scholar.

Past and Current Interests
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The LUDAE project - learning to play abstract games between competition and cooperation. |
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Computer Science with biological/cognitive inspiration, namely, Neural Networks, Artificial Life, Genetic Algorithms, Fuzzy Logic... |
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Theory of Computation, namely, Computational Lower and Upper Bounds, Turing Machines, Recursive Partial Functions, Dynamical Systems. |
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Programming languages, namely, Haskell, JavaScript, Java and Python. |
I wrote a Programming and Data Structures book and another about Theory of Computation (with Francisco Coelho) both in Portuguese and published by Escolar Editora.
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Pedagogical Activities
Two books of games was published (in Portuguese) at Gradiva: Jogos Matemáticos, Jogos Abstractos, and Jogos: Histórias de Família by me and Jorge Nuno Silva.
Another book about abstract games, called Jogos Velhos, Regras Novas, was published at Clássica Editora in 2010.
Quadrex, Xadrez Espartano, Sardinhas, Oust, Vizinhos, Sesqui-moku, Sofia, Promoções e Despromoções,
Otelo 1-11, 5-em-linha com Leilão, Dipole, Linhas Paralelas, Mak-Yek, Xadrez de Salto, Go em Linha,
Formas, Xadrez por Delegação, Punhais, Fang, Xadrez de Exército, Conectar-6, Konane, Avanço.I have published, together with Jorge Nuno Silva and Carlos Santos, two collections about historical board games and mathematics, namely Jogos Com História (in 2007) and Jogos do Mundo (in 2008) in collaboration with newspaper Público and the weekly magazine Visão.
Also I participate in the organizing committee of the National Tournament of Math Games for math students aged 6 to 17 years old from all regions of Portugal, already in its 6th edition (more info here).

Home made WebPages
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The World of Abstract Games (and Trabsact Sagme's blog) |
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Game Design |
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Chess Variants (check my contributions for the ChessVariant website) |
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Diplomacy (variant 1939) and variants. |

Some Favorite Writers
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Jorge Luis Borges |
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Franz Kakfa |
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Frank Herbert |
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Stanislav Lem |
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Umberto Eco |
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J.R.R. Tolkien |
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Philip K. Dick |
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Douglas Adams |

Some Favorite Movies
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Science Fiction : Blade Runner , Alien series [I, II, III, IV], 2001, Forbidden Planet, Terminator series [ I, II, III?], Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the essence of Star Wars | ||
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Drama: The Serpent's Egg, Aguirre, Miller's Crossing | ||
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Comedy :Life of Bryan, the Holy Grail, the Meaning of Life, BrainDead, Dr. Strangelove | ||
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Fantasy: Brazil , Rosencrutz & Guilderstern are Dead, Excalibur, The Lord of the Rings [I,II,III] | ||
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Terror: The Haunting (1963 version), The Exorcist, Shining, Nosferatu (1979), The Thing (1982), The Fog | ||
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Thriller: A Clockwork Orange, The Silence of the Lambs, Se7en, Pulp Fiction | ||
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Adventure: Raiders of the Lost Arc | ||
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TV : Monty Python's Flying Circus,
Yes, Minister,
Babylon 5,
Millenium,
NYPD Blue,
Sherlock Holmes
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