Can Computers Think? An Honors College Course Moderated By Stephen Fickas Let’s See What I Said in Beginning of Course Always a Hoot

It’s A Science Course! (Original) What is the Science in Our Question?  Need to know basics of how computers work (in existence for 70+ years).  Need to know basics of field of Artificial Intelligence (in existence for 40+ years).  We will also look at a bit from area of Brain Science and area of Biological Computing.

Did Not Look at “Architecture” Sorrrrrry. I find it kind of boring, but that’s because I deal with it every day!

We Did Look at Building Blocks Hope you can see how Boolean Algebra and Binary Digits fit in to the whole scheme.

And We Did Look at Future Computing Bio-based computing (Conery) Quantum Computing (Schombert)

And Kurzweil’s Rocks (and universe)

We Did Look at AI in JIT Fashion I chose to introduce AI topics as they came up in the reading: Rules, Search, Genetic Algs, Planning In retrospect, I might spend first couple weeks doing AI intro.

It’s An Eclectic Course! (Original) Lots of Disciplines Might Weigh In  Need to know what experts believe think means.  Sci Fi has made predictions.  There are moral and ethical issues.

Did We Discover What “Think” Means? Several Views I Have Heard  Test-Based: Turing Test (means does not matter).  Reverse-engineer brain (means does matter).  Shoot holes in logic: thought problems like CRA (useful for focusing debate).  Context-based: do as well as experts in narrow domains (leaves open general intell).

Lot’s of Sci Fi We Looked at Some  Matrix. Couple of themes: (1) malevolent take-over by machines, (2) humans live in a simulation (but don’t know it).  Total Recall. Can upload data to your brain, including simulated emotional experiences.  Battlestar Gallactica: machines take over and clone themselves. Pretty relevant to recent discussion on future of reproduction.

Moral and Ethical Issues We have touched on some  Course had more a science flavor because I’m a science guy. (And it is a science course!)  Did try to get someone who teaches ethics and/or religion to guest lecture, but no luck   Frankly, I think the author does an ok job of raising issues. Of course, you can disagree with his conclusions.

General Course Outline (Original) 50/50  50% of course will look at science issues. Will use some lab time and also homework.  Remaining piece of course will take material from our textbook (a non-science book) and from other readings and lectures.

General Class Outline (Original) Almost 3 Hours!  I like classes with a lab component. We will use some of each class for lab.  There will be some lecture component where I give you foundations you need for science piece.  We will do some discussion/interactive activities that ask you to think/contribute.  We often will have a guest speaker from outside area to broaden our horizons.  Abandoned in-class labs after several weeks. Good idea?  Did a couple interactive pieces. Wanted to do more – might try next year.  I found the guest speakers critical to balancing or enhancing textbook material. And it’s interesting to see a variety of teaching styles

Grading (Original) I like Straight-Line: You can all earn an A You can all earn an A  Traditional: A (100-90), B (80-89), C (70-79), …  50% lab/exams, 30% written, 20% participation.  Weekly work.  No late turn-ins, but will provide make-up assignments to get points back (typically harder than original). Like to change this: 50% lab/exams, 30% written, 20% participation. To this: 50% lab/exams, 50% written, Extra Credit for participation. Agreed?

Help During Week (Original) I like talking to students!  Always available by and don’t mind questions by .  Official office hours: MW 4-5.  My office is in Deschutes Hall, room 313. You need to speak up more if I set bad office hours! And I am sure you know this, but it is always a good thing for a professor to get to know you through office hours.

About Our Textbook (Original) It’s Provocative!  It’s aimed at general public.  It’s quite optimistic – a technocrat treatise.  In general, it argues that in your lifetime you will see the emergence of computer-based intelligence.  And that you will love it.  We will discuss more once you have read the first chapter.