Research and Discovery Section 3: Elisha Swords Final Project By Elisha Sword (of course)

What will be covered? This is my slide show presenting the research process, research presentation, and final project for the Freshman Class of 2013s favorite class, Research and Discovery. I will begin with the research process, something about which you all care passionately.

What did I do? The overall objective, of course, was for the presenter to have found a question about a topic for which he or she cares and then discover its answer. After that, he or she will have made his or her FINAL PROJECT. Ill get to that in a minute.

What did I choose to do? I consider myself a math nerd and a computer geek; finding an excuse to speak about mathematics in front of a bunch of people really makes my day. After a bit of narrowing down, I chose the following question:…

What are the capabilities of a computer? Can a computer achieve consciousness? Of course, this leads to the question of computer overlords, and so on…

So, I researched. One of the reasons I chose this topic was a section of Archimedes Revenge on Turing machines (Ill explain those) and thus already knew a basic understanding of what they can do. Therefore, I decided I felt capable of pinning down the answer. After a bit of researching, I decided to make…

The Capabilities of a Computer by Elisha Sword

What will be discussed? Obviously, the main point of this presentation is to discover the capabilities of a computer. Obviously, the main point of this presentation is to discover the capabilities of a computer. There are two foci of this presentation: There are two foci of this presentation: Psychological:Psychological: What can it do? What can it do? Can a computer think?Can a computer think? Can a computer become conscious? Can a computer become conscious? Could a computer become a world overlord? Could a computer become a world overlord? Do we have common misconceptions of what computers can do? Do we have common misconceptions of what computers can do? MathematicalMathematical What can a computer do mathematically? What can a computer do mathematically? What can it not do? What can it not do? The answer to this is quite surprising.The answer to this is quite surprising.

Potential Misconceptions of Computers Capabilities We are all aware of how our latest and greatest computer or electronic gadget does cool things. We are all aware of how our latest and greatest computer or electronic gadget does cool things. However, is it actually doing something? However, is it actually doing something?

Potential Misconceptions of Computers Capabilities Think about all the electronic gadget advertisement slogans: Think about all the electronic gadget advertisement slogans: Theres an app for thatTheres an app for that In a world of doesnt, DROID doesIn a world of doesnt, DROID does Without my ScanSnap scanner, I [would be doing a laborious task rather than doing this fabulous awesome thing I am doing right now].Without my ScanSnap scanner, I [would be doing a laborious task rather than doing this fabulous awesome thing I am doing right now]. These slogans are promoting what the gadget or computer is doinga concept we all take for granted: These slogans are promoting what the gadget or computer is doinga concept we all take for granted: My computer was…My computer was…

So, what CAN a computer do?

The Turing Machine

What is a Turing Machine? A Turing Machine is, in informal terms, a machine that can: read from a horizontal tape of evenly divided cells that can range to infinitely long, printonly one symbol per cellfrom a finite set of symbols, and move across this tape either left or right, depending on its state and the symbolif any at allon the tape. A Turing Machine must run according to a previously defined set of rules.

Lance Fortnow. Lesson 12: Turing Machine Redux. Computational Complexity. Computational Complexity, 3 Jan Web. 27 April 2010.

A Sample Turing Machine: Rules StateSymbol*None* State 0MOVE RIGHT PRINT MOVE RIGHT STATE 1 State 1MOVE RIGHT MOVE LEFT STATE 2 State 2 ERASE STOP

A Sample Turing Machine: Actions 2 + 1= 3

Mathematical Aspect Drum roll, please… A Turing Machine… …can do ANYTHING a computer can do… …and ANYTHING a human mathematician can do! WOW!

The Unconscious …i.e., the unconscious theory of Sigmund Freud.

How does the mind work? There are two parts to the mind: There are two parts to the mind: ConsciousConscious This is the part that we can control. We actively use the conscious to make decisions, and recall memories into conscious thought. This is the part that we can control. We actively use the conscious to make decisions, and recall memories into conscious thought. This is analogous to computer programming instructions. This is analogous to computer programming instructions. Unconscious (a.k.a. the Subconscious)Unconscious (a.k.a. the Subconscious) This is the part that we cannot control. It contains mostly suppressed, unsatisfactory memories (pain, anger, etc.) and influences our experiences and actions in ways that are out of our control. This is the part that we cannot control. It contains mostly suppressed, unsatisfactory memories (pain, anger, etc.) and influences our experiences and actions in ways that are out of our control.

What does this have to do with anything?

Psychological Aspect There is no existing computer analogy for the unconscious. There is no existing computer analogy for the unconscious. Okay, sometimes a program will lose its way and execute instructions that are not part of the program.Okay, sometimes a program will lose its way and execute instructions that are not part of the program. But this is controlled. Everything in a computer is operating by already given instruction. But this is controlled. Everything in a computer is operating by already given instruction. In other words, this kills the concept of computer consciousness… In other words, this kills the concept of computer consciousness… …and of the dreaded computer overlord. …and of the dreaded computer overlord.

SO DONT WORRY ABOUT COMPUTER OVERLORDS! Thank you.

So… A computer can always be represented by a Turing Machine. A computer can always be represented by a Turing Machine. Thus, it can do anything humans can do.Thus, it can do anything humans can do. A computer has no analogy for the unconscious. A computer has no analogy for the unconscious. Thus, it cannot be conscious relative to that of human thought.Thus, it cannot be conscious relative to that of human thought. Nor can there be computer overlords.Nor can there be computer overlords.

Works Cited Cherry, Kendra. The Conscious and Unconscious Mind. About.com: Psychology. About.com, n.d. Web. 28 April Davis, Stephen Randy. C++ For Dummies: 5 th Edition. Hoboken, NJ, Wiley Publishing, Inc Print. Hoffman, Paul. Archimedes Revenge: The Joys and Perils of Mathematics. New York, NY, W. W. Norton & Company, Inc Print. Lance Fortnow. Lesson 12: Turing Machine Redux. Computational Complexity. Computational Complexity, 3 Jan Web. 27 April 2010.

What happens next? I have answered the question in a presentable format, but thats not the end: I needed to make a FINAL PROJECT. My goal would have been making a working Turing machine, but since I dont know how to do that, I decided (after some help from Ms. Dickinson)…

…I would write a research paper! Isnt that exciting?!

Wait you made a research paper?! Not including my Works Cited, I wrote a four page research paper on the subject. Dont worry about thatI shall only brief you on it. I dont want to bore you with it either.

What did it cover? Basically, I covered everything I just told you now. However, I expanded my psychological aspect of computer consciousness accounting for the id, ego, and superegoyou can read it (if you care).

So… thats it? Okay, I admit: its not very exciting (for you, anyway). However, I learned a lot from the research processand I showed you will not need to worry about your favorite computer someday waking up and wanting to take over the world.

…and, of course, I wrote a research paper! Thank you for listening.

The End