Which later became a real-life DARPA Challenge (solved).<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.darpa.mil&#x2F;shredderchallenge&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;archive.darpa.mil&#x2F;shredderchallenge&#x2F;</a><p>And, come to think of it, a variation was in the novel Rainbows End by Vernor Vinge.