On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:43:56 -0800 (PST), jamesgangnc
wrote:

On Feb 28, 1:57*pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:36:34 -0800 (PST), jamesgangnc

wrote:
Seems we seldom have more than one or two boating topics a day
anyway. *But hope springs eternal!

And spring is right around the corner for you high latitude folks. *It
was in the 80s here last week but a chilly 40 something this morning.
Hopefully the pool will warm up by late afternoon.

Back to computers: *Read up on "the Turing Test" for some fresh
insights:

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turing_test

As you can see, this discussion has been going on for a long time. *I
would postulate that Kasparov's automated opponent has already passed
the test within its limited realm. *At some point, and it may have
already started, computers will be expertly programmed to simulate
feelings, emotion and creative thought. *When the simulations become
so well done that world class experts can't tell the difference, what
do you have then?

Simulating human behavior is far from possessing human characteristics.

Can't help but think of Blade Runner when reading this. Never read
the book (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?) as I had moved on from
sci-fi by the time it came out. I'd like to read it, though.
Blade Runner is one of my favorite movies. One of the most haunting
scenes I've ever seen in a movie is when Deckard tells the girl her
memories are fake, that she's not human, whereupon she sheds tears.
The renegade warrior replicants did show one seemingly real emotion.
Hate your enemy. Might argue that was programmed. Or not.

--Vic