>Date:    Sun, 12 Jan 1997 18:00:16 -0500
>From:    Wirt Atmar <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Today is an important day in the history of computing
<snip>

Wirt,

 I could have written that myself - it reflects sediments dear to my heart.

 While driving home a few months ago, I listened to a PBS follow-up
interview with Gary Kasparov the Russian chess champion that played 'deep
blue', his thoughts (quoted from my memory, not exactly)

 "I was able to learn how the machine was programmed in the first two games
and that gave me strategy on how to defeat it ... deep blue did not learn
from my style of play while I was able to learn from its style of play.  My
ability to learn and adjust strategy gave me the advantage."

 I really believe we are at a threshold of no return.  We must invent
learning machines to manage the highly complex environments we imposed on
ourselves.  I could spend a lifetime just learning about new products and
services, without even selecting one!

 While we are on a space trip, Carl Sagan (11/9/1934 - 12/20/1996) wrote his
last book about the dangerous knowledge gaps that exist between the
understanding of science and technology, and of the people who create
systems and the people who are expected to use them.  He is fearful that
these knowledge gaps will recreate situations of history past.  His book,
"The Demon-Haunted World", explores these fears and raises the scientific
method as the candle of hope.

 http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~mrapp/sagan/ptart.html

 http://wwwvms.utexas.edu/~MRAPP/SAGAN/SAGAN.HTML

 So, if machines could actually learn things about the person and their
environment through interaction, then have the machine adjust their
'features' to the customer rather than the other way around, I see a new
dawn on the horizon for computing.

On the other hand, a 'self aware' computer chip gives me goose bumps.
---
Eric J. Schubert, Senior Analyst, Excellence In Service,
Office of Information Technologies (219) 631-7306
University of Notre Dame, IN USA
http://www.nd.edu/~eschuber  (team) http://www.nd.edu/~eisteam

EIS Mission:
 To enable excellent service through process improvement.

Personal watch phrase:
 Don't confuse motion with progress.