PART 1 • Some thoughts on kasparov vs. Deep blue
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By ' augmenting man ' s intellect ' we mean increasing the capability of a man to approach a complex problem situation, gain comprehension to suit his particular needs, and to derive solutions to problems. Increased capability in this respect is taken to mean... that comprehension can be gained more quickly; that better comprehension can be gained; that a useful degree of comprehension can be gained where previously the situation was too complex; that solutions can be produced more quickly; that better solutions can be produced; that solutions can be found where previously the human could find none. And by ' complex situations ' we include the professional problems of diplomats, executives, social scientists, life scientists, physical scientists, attorneys, designers-- whether the problem situation exists for twenty minutes or twenty years. We do not speak of isolated clever tricks that help in particular situations. We refer to a way of life in an integrated domain where hunches, cut--and-try, intangibles, and the human ' feel for a situation ' usefully coexist with powerful concepts, streamlined terminology and notation, sophisticated methods, and high-powered electronic aids.
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When Douglas Englebart penned those words in 1963, a new tool was born. « Congratulations, Mr. Englebart... it ' s a processor!»
Computers had been around for close to twenty years when Doug Englebart wrote « A Conceptual Framework for Augmenting Man ' s Intellect » but nobody was quite sure what to do with them. Sure, one could do complex mathematical operations with a computer, one could do mindbending statistical analysis, but what were the machines really good for besides crunching numbers?
Englebart ' s article defined what a computer was good for and even dared to go beyond that simple definition. He envisioned a world in which humans and computers worked together to solve problems that humans couldn ' t solve unaided. That world is defined with startling clarity in the paragraph I just quoted. Go back and read it again. Once the comprehension of what he ' s saying hits you, I defy you to prevent a Tim Allen-esque grunt from passing your lips.
But do you know the sad part? This brilliant vision was either ignored or scoffed at for close to another two decades. It took a couple of hippie-types named Steve to bring the concept to the world ' s attention in the
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