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From: lev@suned0.nswses.navy.mil (Lloyd E Vancil)
Newsgroups: comp.ai.philosophy
Subject: Re: Fresh Ideas (hopefully)
Message-ID: <5640@suned1.Nswses.Navy.MIL>
Date: 11 Oct 90 15:44:05 GMT
References: <3560@media-lab.MEDIA.MIT.EDU> <14517@hydra.gatech.EDU> <90277.034819BINDNER@auvm.auvm.edu>
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In article <90277.034819BINDNER@auvm.auvm.edu> BINDNER@auvm.auvm.edu writes:
>First the limits.  I don't think AI will ever be able to really duplicate
>human judgement.  It may one day be the compliment of man's rational
>thought, but it will never duplicate man as it will not evolve the same way.
What about the Idea of Cyborgs?  Man machine interfaces so interwoven as to
be indistiguishable?  Would these be machines or ??
I think I agree with you as far as the different evolution goes but I wonder
if we would recognise a truly "awake" computer or Computer system.  Could
the inter related systems we already have created be awake in some way and
if they are, or are not, how would we "prove it"?  
At this level this is the same question the SETI people face.  For us to
recognise intelligence the observed and observer must have some common
mental ground.

>automation makes gatherable.  Expert systems and their successors can aid
>this analysis.  However, hunches and judgement are beyond the capablities of
>automation (at least for the present) as they are non-rational.
This asserts the thought that "hunches" are some mystical, synergism of
intelligence.  Are they?  Could they be the unseen, logical ,even machine-like,
process of the subconscious?  I speak only from my own problem solving 
experience.  When I have a really knotty problem I consign it to the back of my mind and proceed with my other tasks.  As often as not at some point later
that same day a new approach will POP into my mind.  I have observed that these
"inspirations" are combinations of things I know, and may not have related to
the orginal problem.  They POP up with a hunch feel, "I wonder if this will
work?

>A further potential, possibly AIs grandest is to make computers accessable
>to all.  Let me elaborate.  Nothing discourages a new user more than the
>literal nature of computers.   As all hackers know, computers like exact
>commands (and will accept nothing less).  Correct this problem and AI
>
Using an "expert system" to interpret, understand and act on commands given
in "plain english"  would be a boon to all types of people.  An expansion on
this would be services to the blind, and the otherwise handicapped.  I have a
friend, who is an electronic engineer, and who has been blind all of his life.
The technology he uses to understand what the machine wants is phenomonal.  To
have an "AI" as the user interface, that would talk to him and understand his
words would be SOMETHING WONDERFUL!

L.

--
            suned1!lev@elroy.JPL.Nasa.Gov sun!suntzu!suned1!lev
                          lev@suned1.nswses.navy.mil
                     My employer has no opinions, these are MINE!