Posted on 02/15/2011 7:52:19 PM PST by Kaslin
The human contestants, while demonstrating certain memory functions, are also demonstrating higher levels of brain function including seeing and hearing. Watson is deaf and blind and is basically demonstrating data base search algorithms. Interesting, but primitive when it comes to brain function.
I'd agree, but as I recall, he didn't do it unless he thought he could retrieve that answer in time. I didn't see him miss too many. (The guy is really good)
As I get older and watch that show, it's 'I know I know" but the answer does not pop to my lips as quickly as it once did. Years ago, "I could have been a contender", but now, I know I know it, but I simply can't get the answer out as fast. Just like baseball... my reaction time is way down.
Blame it on the Budwiser. ;~))
It was all internal. Actually, the internet would have been far too slow for that contest.
“Understanding spoken speech requires far more processing...”
Be that as it may, I believe you’ll notice the human contestants also read the clues. In fact, while playing along at home I like to tune Alex out, for the sake of avoiding his pompous pronunciations, bad impressions and accents, and stupid jokes.
Airplanes
You’re not getting it.
He may be smart but he will never get a date . . . when they can fit watson into a container he size of a coconut, I’ll be impressed
In actuality the human contestants are squaring off against the team of coders who wrote the software. They are in no way competing against an intelligent machine of any sort.
A bright 12 year old could program the same powerful computer to play a mediocre game of checkers or a group of high-end coders can program it to play Jeopardy but the machine stays the same, it is the brilliance of the programmers that is on display.
Computers are tools, they are amplifiers that automate intelligence. They are the most important tools ever created by man.
“I always figured Jennings’ secret was that he clicked in before he knew the answer. But that was his risk, and anyone could have taken it.”
I wondered out loud if they can press the button before the entire answer is read. My son said no, not sure if he is correct or not. (Probably is!)
Just searched it on the net. My son was right - you are “locked out” on the buzzer until the entire question is asked.
Just wait in 10 years or less Watson could fit into a cell phone. Back in the 40’s you needed a room floor full of equipment to do what a pocket calculator did in the 80’s.
I think they’ve allowed Watson’s buzzer timing to be too fast - it’s clear from watching that the 2 guys knew a lot of the questions but couldn’t get in first. So is it fair to let the computer buzz in every time (mechanically) as fast as the fastest human would, or should they have adjusted the reaction time?
Assuming all 3 of them knew the question before Alex was done talking and tried to buzz in as soon as the buzzers unlock, yesterday did not look fair and Ken Jennings said as much on Fox this AM (but not in a whiny way).
“You’re not getting it.”
Let’s backtrack. You responded to the comment “It is a quibble whether it reads the question or hears it from Trebek” by going into detail on the complexity of speech recognition. That’s interesting, and the point of “Watson” is, of course, more about showing off new technology than the game of Jeopardy.
It being a “quibble” whether Watson reads or hears the clues is, however, absolutely spot-on. That is, if you take the game seriously, as apparently you’re not interested in doing. There may be an advantage in both hearing and reading clues, but you can play perfectly adaquately with the sound off. A deaf person would have no problem playing, granting their speech could be recognized or accommodations were to be made for them answering with signs.
“Not a quibble at all. Even a small child could easily understand the spoken question. If the computer cannot, it is obviously limited in its abilities even when compared to a child.”
Yes, but the humans are also able to read the clues. And I assume it is paramount for contestants to read ahead of Alex’s speech in order to gain timely advantage. I also assume there’s some advantage to having both options, but there are probably also other drawbacks to hearing Trebek. I know he often throws me off.
Thanks for the info...
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