gcj%qmc-ori.uucp@CS.UCL.AC.UK (03/20/86)
``How a pair of dull-witted programs can look like geniuses on I.Q. tests.'' This article appeared in the March issue of Scientific American in the Computer Recreations column of A.K.Dewdney which discusses the concept of an IQ test for computers, (cf Vol 3 # 164 et seq). He mentions the HI Q program of Marcel Feenstra, which solves problems of the "sequence completion" and "numerical analogies" types. This scores 160 on the corresponding parts of the IQ tests described by Hans J. Eysenck. Dewdney describes his own putative program SE Q. Dewdney paraphrases ``The Mismeasure of Man'' by Stephen J. Gould and says :- ``What it comes to is this: The traditional I.Q. test rests on the unstated assumption that intelligence, like strength, is a single quality of human physiology that can be measured by a graded series of tasks.'' So far, so good. He then quotes Gould directly :- `` Our brains are enormously complex computers''. Hmmm... getting a bit fishy. Finally, he says :- `` Does the score on the test measure the intelligence of the computer? If it does not, just how does one go about measuring the intelligence of a computer, whether it is made of silicon and plastic or carbon and tissue? The answer: Probably not by running some I.Q. program through a battery of tests.'' Two gripes with this. Who are the carbon/tissue *computers* he is talking about? Secondly, computers will never be "intelligent"; however software might *appear* intelligent in certain respects. Nuff said. Gordon Joly ARPA: gcj%qmc-ori@ucl-cs.arpa UUCP: ...!ukc!qmc-cs!qmc-ori!gcj P.S. Funny, I thought the Answer was 42. `` The monkey spoke!'' - Zaphod Beeblebrox on Arthur Dent.