The Power of Computers
Via theferrett, an article on the "Google Killer", Wolfram Alpha.
It's an interesting article, on a very interesting piece of software. And it's a pity that the 'computational engine' does not deliver at this moment in time. But one does hope that it will do so at some point in the future. I quite like the idea of, in some indeterminate time, asking of my current computer "explain to me the finer points of string theory" and having Romy* oblige, succinctly and accurately.
But it's the conclusion that has me giggling like a loon.How can you trust an information processor that sometimes spits out results you don't understand, doesn't explain how it came to these answers and doesn't reveal its sources?
Well, I don't know. How about employ them at The Daily Mail or The Daily Express, m'lud?
* Well, if you could interact with your computer on that kind of level, what would you call yours?
It's an interesting article, on a very interesting piece of software. And it's a pity that the 'computational engine' does not deliver at this moment in time. But one does hope that it will do so at some point in the future. I quite like the idea of, in some indeterminate time, asking of my current computer "explain to me the finer points of string theory" and having Romy* oblige, succinctly and accurately.
But it's the conclusion that has me giggling like a loon.How can you trust an information processor that sometimes spits out results you don't understand, doesn't explain how it came to these answers and doesn't reveal its sources?
Well, I don't know. How about employ them at The Daily Mail or The Daily Express, m'lud?
* Well, if you could interact with your computer on that kind of level, what would you call yours?