Is FIVE ALIVE Johnny? (weekly theme FEB 28)

I believe it was in 3rd grade when I learned the definition of a machine.
From what I recall, a naive definition of a machine is an implement used by a human to make work easier. Take for example a pulley, lever, or a wedge, all simple machines.

A computer is more complex machine, but as Hillis said, " building a computer out of any technology requires a large supply of only two kinds of elements: SWITCHES AND CONNECTORS." He proved this by building a computer out of tinker toys.

As a pulley allows a person or persons to lift a great amount of weight to a large height, a computer allows a person or persons to process a large amount of information, in a quicker amount of time. A good example of this is the search for the largest PRIME NUMBERS.
In this project groups of intertwined by the internet, computers all around the world work as
a group and crunch numbers. This is could be done by pen, paper, and human hand, but would take years and years to accomplish what computers can do in months.

Computers also excel in areas that need exact and meticulous attention to detail is needed in operations. There is no finer example of this than the fatal nuclear accident at the National Reactor Testing Station in Idaho Falls, Idaho in January 1961.

A technician doing routine maintenance on control rods, accidently pulled one rod out 50 centimeters, 10 centimeters past the point that would have made the reactor "critical". Needless to say, all hell broke loose, and that technician was found dead on the ceiling, impaled by the rod. This incident led to the computerization of all controls dealing with the movement of control rods.

While computers can help prevent human error, they can not produce human emotion. Computers recorded the earthquake data that caused the horrific tsunami of Dec 26, 2004, but they did could not feel the devastation caused by the numbers they captured. That is where computers fail.

Computer scientist are trying to devise programs to produce feelings and emotions in computers, like this video of toy emotions .

Researchers at MIT are trying to develop robots that will be able to deal interact with humans on an emotional level, called sociable machines as the robot below.



(Her cold steely but breath taking stare caught my attention from across the crowded room)



While doing research for this blog entry, I came across this though provoking, yet freaky article. I hope humans and computers never cross paths like this scientist believes we will in the future. He may have watched too many Terminator movies.