Ancient biology vs Modern technology - A discussion

[RiaX]

I dont know if this should be in PD but I dont have access to PD yet. I was curious and thinking of this, which would you say is more powerful in terms of processing power? The Anciently built human brain or modern man's child the computer.

Now im aware you can simply google this, so lets not flood the thread with links to wikipedia or other journal sites unless its asked for. Instead provide an account by amalgamating the knowledge you have, in other words iron out isolated events with specific research targets.

On one hand, you have a biological mass comprised mainly of fatty tissue, with the ability to percieve a world and process the information of the world via various stimuli by converting it to simple electrical impulses. From this, the massive amount of information from visual senses, auditory senses ect ect is immense. While simultaneously maintaining processes that you are unware of, pulsating of your arteries, heart beat, breathing making glands secrete, control the diameter of tubules and so on.

On the other hand you have a mass of silicon, (now im not a technical specialist so forgive me if my terms are some what simple), Which is capable of doing the most complex mathematical equations that most people cant even comprehend. Has the ability to convert analogue inputs into digital mathematical terms and process this data in an instant. Computers have become so powerful they can simulate the collision of the andromeda galaxy and the milky galaxy with precision. Others have simulated the evolution of the universe with sheer mathematics. In terms of computing power they have been created to be used as a tool to process tasks that are too complex for the voluntary mind.

So do you think that the brain in ALL its glory, voluntary and involutary processing, has been out classed by its own child - the computer?

 

[Observer2]

Unseen

So do you think that the brain in ALL its glory, voluntary and involutary processing, has been out classed by its own child - the computer?[/QUOTE]

No, not at all. Consider this: We can send an explorer to Mars but we cannot build anything that remotely resembles the complexity of the molecular machines that are present in the most primitive bacteria let alone a living cell.

Ok, forget a bacteria and start with building a single folded 3-D protein and see if you can get that right first.

 

[azbob]

I dont know if this should be in PD but I dont have access to PD yet. I was curious and thinking of this, which would you say is more powerful in terms of processing power? The Anciently built human brain or modern man's child the computer.

Now im aware you can simply google this, so lets not flood the thread with links to wikipedia or other journal sites unless its asked for. Instead provide an account by amalgamating the knowledge you have, in other words iron out isolated events with specific research targets.

On one hand, you have a biological mass comprised mainly of fatty tissue, with the ability to percieve a world and process the information of the world via various stimuli by converting it to simple electrical impulses. From this, the massive amount of information from visual senses, auditory senses ect ect is immense. While simultaneously maintaining processes that you are unware of, pulsating of your arteries, heart beat, breathing making glands secrete, control the diameter of tubules and so on.

On the other hand you have a mass of silicon, (now im not a technical specialist so forgive me if my terms are some what simple), Which is capable of doing the most complex mathematical equations that most people cant even comprehend. Has the ability to convert analogue inputs into digital mathematical terms and process this data in an instant. Computers have become so powerful they can simulate the collision of the andrometer galaxy and the milky galaxy with precision. Others have simulated the evolution of the universe with sheer mathematics. In terms of computing power they have been created to be used as a tool to process tasks that are too complex for the voluntary mind.

So do you think that the brain in ALL its glory, voluntary and involutary processing, has been out classed by its own child - the computer?

Wtf is the andrometer galaxy? Must be recently discovered. And what's "ect ect"? Surely it's "etc etc".

I came in here to say that the human brain is more powerful but I think you've convinced me otherwise.

 

[intel8080]

Hmmm . . . You post about 12 posts a day! Clearly you are a old, banned member. The question is which one. I am sure you know, previously banned members will be banned in a flash if they keep on posting controversial stuff! Yes, this tread belongs to the PD section and there is a reason why 'new members' can not post in there. But I am sure,you know this all along. WTF

 

[rwenzori]

Hmmm . . . You post about 12 posts a day! Clearly you are a old, banned member. The question is which one. I am sure you know, previously banned members will be banned in a flash if they keep on posting controversial stuff! Yes, this tread belongs to the PD section and there is a reason why 'new members' can not post in there. But I am sure,you know this all along. WTF

Huh! What's your problem?

The topic is interesting. Must ponder a bit.

 

[bin3]

Humans can create and program a computer: we have not yet been able to create nor program a human from a computer.

At this stage, there is still no contest. Keep in mind, excluding a few exceptions, a computer can only do what you tell it it to. It can do it very, very quickly, and won't get bored, but other than that -- it's a computing machine, not a thinking machine, at least not yet. I am not talking about Watson and the like, which can be seen as a semi autistic child: extreme ability in a very narrow field.

 

[buyeye]

Humans can create and program a computer: we have not yet been able to create nor program a human from a computer.

At this stage, there is still no contest. Keep in mind, excluding a few exceptions, a computer can only do what you tell it it to. It can do it very, very quickly, and won't get bored, but other than that -- it's a computing machine, not a thinking machine, at least not yet. I am not talking about Watson and the like, which can be seen as a semi autistic child: extreme ability in a very narrow field.

Also the human brain has an amazing storage capacity still not matched by machinery and they are actually looking at biological storage.

Then an average human does not have to recalculate every problem for example if you give me any multiplication problem I would simply remember(recall) the answer.

 

[Pooky]

I would say the brain is way better, not just more powerful, but more useful as well as we have the ability to be creative.

 

[intel8080]

Huh! What's your problem?

The topic is interesting. Must ponder a bit.

I have no problem with the topic. And neither have I got a problem with you (at least not in this tread). However, this is clearly a PD question and there is a reason why he is not allowed to post in there. Agreeing with him in bypassing that rule, does not help either.

 

[copacetic]

Hmmm . . . You post about 12 posts a day! Clearly you are a old, banned member. The question is which one. I am sure you know, previously banned members will be banned in a flash if they keep on posting controversial stuff! Yes, this tread belongs to the PD section and there is a reason why 'new members' can not post in there. But I am sure,you know this all along. WTF

What on earth are you waffling about?

 

[RiaX]

Hmmm . . . You post about 12 posts a day! Clearly you are a old, banned member. The question is which one. I am sure you know, previously banned members will be banned in a flash if they keep on posting controversial stuff! Yes, this tread belongs to the PD section and there is a reason why 'new members' can not post in there. But I am sure,you know this all along. WTF

No you dont. Im new here, i signed up to get help on an 8ta data sim

 

[rwenzori]

And neither have I got a problem with you (at least not in this tread).

What a relief! If you had, it might be treadful.

I am not sure you can really compare human brain with modern computer. The human brain is part of an organism that has evolved for survival and reproduction over a very long time in an essentially hostile environment. That is what it is - not a speedy calculator, though it is that too. Our brains can recognise shapes, faces, eyes, sounds and innumerable other things that might affect our safety/survival: our memory function is also largely shaped by what is important for us in terms of safety and survival - we are the products of our past and our environment. We might be able to escape or beat off that sabre-toothed tiger, but a PC don't know to run from a scrap compactor.

 

[RiaX]

interesting, but this is more of a in terms of computing power.... if thats the right phrase

How much of information with in a second do you think the brain deals with

 

[Techne]

Well, if it turns out that quantum mechanics has something to do with consciousness and information processing in microtubules in neurons then it would still be quite a while before we can design something that matches the information processing power of our brains.

Some info:

[video=youtube;LXFFbxoHp3s]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXFFbxoHp3s[/video]

Scientists Claim Brain Memory Code Cracked

http://www.quantumconsciousness.org

I am not too sure about the philosophical implications of this model. Some say this is materialism on steroids, others argue it collapses to panpsychism. While it is interesting, there is still some work to be done to make it more plausible, I think. Interesting nonetheless.

 

[rwenzori]

interesting, but this is more of a in terms of computing power.... if thats the right phrase

How much of information with in a second do you think the brain deals with

No idea, but a helluva lot more than your average Intel 8080, I'd guess.

 

[RiaX]

Yes I agree there is no computer available to the average consumer that can match the brain, but what about super computers used to do complex simulations?

 

[Knyro]

Very interesting question, but also very difficult if not impossible to answer until we find out exactly how the brain processes and stores data at the fundamental level. Unless you can put a number to it; it remains speculation.

Then an average human does not have to recalculate every problem for example if you give me any multiplication problem I would simply remember(recall) the answer.

Computers do this all the time. Compute the result then store it in cache/RAM/hard disk so you don't have to do it again every single time.

 

[RiaX]

would it be wrong to compare the information recieved by the eyes and ears to that of uncompressed video ?

 

[rwenzori]

would it be wrong to compare the information recieved by the eyes and ears to that of uncompressed video ?

Probably. You are comparing digital computers to analog senses. Like comparing the sound of a violin being played live to a digitised version being sampled at a bit-rate. The analog signals, if you were, are continuous not discrete.

 

[RiaX]

Even with analog media like a film, for example tape based video cameras