|
|
Post by ancalimon on Dec 12, 2010 6:05:38 GMT 3
|
|
|
|
Post by merlkir on Dec 12, 2010 12:11:10 GMT 3
A small set of very simple rules can result in surprisingly complex results. This is usually refered to as fractals (mathematical equations depicted as images, which is exactly what happens with rock structures and other phenomenon in nature): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FractalPatterns on animals and elsewhere in nature can also be simulated using cellular automatons: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_automatonor simulations using agents. Again, it's just setting a couple of simple rules (which in nature are represented by the laws of physics and chemistry and/or behaviour of animals) and applying them iteratively over time. It's not really that mysterious, just fascinating. edit: smoke is a result or a part of a chemical reaction, again - it happens by the laws of physics. That's why we can simulate smoke and fire quite well using computers - the reactions and movement of particles and burning of gasses can be computed. Another example - Flocking of birds. How come birds fly so closely in the flock and are able to change their flight so rapidly and accurately? www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUkjC-69vawen.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boids - Boids is the most commonly used simulation for this type of movement and it relies only on 3 rules. Although it's not exactly how real birds fly (I did my thesis at the university about this topic), it produces very close results and it can be easily modified to implement the real algorithm. (which I managed to do) I'm always a bit irked when people use this stuff as "proof" that god created it. "Oh myyy, it's sooo complex and perfect, it means god did it." It's actually pretty simple, it's just tough figuring it out at first. |
|
|
|
Post by ancalimon on Dec 12, 2010 15:56:57 GMT 3
Do you think organic artificial intelligence could be created and would you call it life if it could be created?
|
|
|
|
Post by merlkir on Dec 12, 2010 16:35:22 GMT 3
Do you think organic artificial intelligence could be created and would you call it life if it could be created? Yes and yes. Another argument I hear a lot for divine creation is - "how come the conditions for life are so perfect on Earth? Obviously, God set them so." While in reality, we know there are billions of planets where life didn't sprout. It's not surprising that it did happen on Earth - one of the few which had the necessary conditions. (because it's nearly certain there are more in the universe) Believers don't like to hear it, but it's a mere chance it was Earth and not some other planet. Artificial life...it's a believer question.  There's nothing original or artificial about any form of life, present, past or future. If we define life as such: and with our knowledge of the processes of such living organisms, I don't see why it shouldn't be possible to "create" life. It wasn't this long ago when scientists nearly "created" a bacteria. Artificial intelligence...that's a tricky one. Again, intelligence hasn't been properly defined. People usually say something like: Well, we're intelligent, because we can think, speak, read and act like humans. The best definition I've heard so far was by Jeff Hawkins. ( an IT expert who recently started doing neuroscience, don't mistake him for Stephen Hawking, who's paralyzed and a physicist.) According to him, intelligence is the ability to predict events. I really recommend watching the lecture here: (in 5 parts) www.youtube.com/watch?v=oozFn2d45tgHe also talks about the Turing test, which is usually considered ideal for testing artificial intelligence. Anyways, I think that we understand how brains work more and more each year. If the brain can do it, I don't see why we wouldn't be able to do it in time. |
|
