Originally posted by Amara:
We cannot possible imagine the power of the human brain. The complexity of this biological wonder is far too great for us to understand at this present time. The difference between the brain, and an Itanium 2 is that the brain has the functionality to adapt and evolve with time, be self aware and learn. We cannot imagine the true computing power of something like the brain until we truly understand how a network of neurons store information and process it with the relative speed and reliability that it has.
It is almost certain that the human brain 'remembers' using minute chemical signals that are permanently locked into its synapses and neurons.
Its the combination of chemical signals which produce the visual(graphic)signals that we recall as memory.
Exactly as to how the brain can recall its visual graphic signals so fast, is a miracle of evolution.
I must admit that I firmly believe that the human brain will be overtaken by blocks of future "Itanium Processors" in the not to distant future.
Why? Consider the following simple scenario:-
You are asked to construct a shed, (the common garden variety)
The only reason you are able to describe, draw, or make such an object......is because you have actually seen a shed, read or seen a description of a shed in some Encyclopedia as a child.
Sheds encompass walls (type of material?) roof (configuration/slope?) window or windows, type of door, (method of opening?)fixings,(nails?). etc etc.
Another-words, the more information your brain has taken in since a child, about building/materials/
types of sheds. The better are you able to design and produce such an object.
If you never read the definition or never seen a shed during your whole lifetime.....You would be totally stumped.
I'm guesstimating most of us, will have prehaps 10,000 images of sheds within our brains, that we can call up. Including the site and layout as to where a shed might be placed, and what they might stand on?
No images...no sheds!. No images of a Bazonkla? Thats because there is no such thing.
If you are not taught, or hear about something, it won't exist in your brain.
Now the crunch part:-
If you feed into this super future block of Itanium Computers, EVERYTHING and I mean everything, that you have ever seen, read or heard about...You will have a computer at least equal to the cognitive powers of the human brain.
Yes the (computer) would have to tag a descriptive label onto every picture graphic it saw. Which would get easier after its first 1000 million items? How many items are stored in the human brain? 2 billion+? No you cant rem them all, but remembering just one item, can send you down the path of human rememberance, aka intelligence? I,m positive future computers will be able to do the same but better. Prehaps by using blocks of words, together with a chess type of algorithm, their retrieval rate would be 100%
Prehaps they may work slower, but their knowledge
when it came to invention and design, and prediction, would surpass the human brain.
Remember, IF they have absorbed all the knowledge that YOU have, and more, they WILL be classed intellectually human.