Watson vs. Jeopardy Stars - who will win?
Last week you read about the possibility of a computer being more intelligent than a human in the not too distant future. Many of you were scared by this. Well, on Monday we may have our first victorious computer. The USA Today covered the story last Wednesday in A.I. expert Ray Kurzweil picks computer in 'Jeopardy' match. This is a variation of the Turing Test which is the generally accepted test to determine whether a computer is as intelligent as a human. The test in brief is to determine whether a human, communicating with both a human and a computer, can tell the difference between the two. If the time comes when a human cannot ascertain which is which the machine will be determined to have passed the Turing Test and will be declared as intelligent as a human.
Read the USA Today article.
Then think about this very important quotation:
Q: So will computers take over the world?
A: It's not an alien invasion. They're not coming from Mars to displace us. We're creating them to make ourselves smarter. We're going to literally merge with them.
I'm kind of merged with this already (Kurzweil holds up his cellphone). I don't go anywhere without it. And it gives me access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes.
And answer this question:
Do you want your students and your children to face the future with or without "access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes"? That's the key question of EDM310!
Posts
Dr.Strange,
ReplyDeleteGreat piece to provide to our class because yes i do feel like this is a big concern. We can either be prepared for what will occur in our near future or we can procrasinate by telling ourselves we don't need this, but truth in fact is we DO! Our children need this knowlegde even moreso than we do ourselves..for this will be their future! I enjoy learning of the positive ways technology can help us and make our simple lifes just a tad bit more interesting! I vote yes!! -Whitney Greer
I think the question is not rather we want this to happen but how we will handle the situation when it does. This is going to happen. If you were to weigh the pros and cons of our children having access to all human knowledge to the harmful things that can be found through the internet, then the good def outwieghs the bad. Who wouldn't want their kids to easily be able to access everything they could ever need at the touch of a hand?
ReplyDeleteOkay, so I went to the USA Today article and read the story, I also watched the video. This was a great assignment to have to do because I think it addresses a major fear in many people's minds. Where should the line be drawn to determine just how much we depend on technology? I have no idea, but I do realize that if used with the proper amount of sense (caution) it is vital to life - and will be from this point on. We have created this wonderful portal that leads to all human-intelligence, and I have come to realize - in my short weeks in EDM - that it is a wonderful tool. My opinion can probably be summed in this quote by Ray Kurzweil:
ReplyDelete"Technology has always been a double-edged sword — ever since fire, which cooked our food and kept us warm but also was used as a
weapon of destruction. In my mind, the right answer is to create a rapid-response system. We do that with software viruses. We don't just
sit back and say no one would ever write a destructive software virus. It happens every day. But we have technology, along with humans,
that actually helps defend us."
There are risks - plenty of them - but what in life does not have risk involved? I believe that it is vital that I teach my students how to "access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes" because it is unfair to them to do otherwise. Technology is the only way forward, so it must be utilized. Imagine a world where everything possibly known on this earth is milliseconds away. That world is my children's and my students' world - they must be prepared to navigate through the system - so that maximum learning is attainable.
By the way today, February 11, 2011 is Thomas Edison's 164th birthday!
Did you assign this today on purpose, Dr. Strange? If so, how fitting!
also, this is posted on my blog as well!
When I read the question you posed about this article I knew my answer before I even read the article. (I did still read the article though) Of course I do not want my students to have to face a world without "access to all human knnowledge with a few keystrokes". I wouldn't even want to be forced to live without "access to all human knowledge with a few keystrokes". This wasn't even something I have had my entire life but I would never want to have to revert to not having this common luxury. I can only imagine that my students will feel like this even more. They won't even know how to live without the luxury of having this access constantly available to them.
ReplyDeleteWe take for granted how much technology has improved our lives. A teacher's job is to provide information. Technology is the most effective way to access and share information. Yes, give them access! Let’s teach, “With knowledge comes responsibility to make a positive difference!”
ReplyDeleteHaving "all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes" is convenient. Do I want my students and children to have access to it all? I have mixed feelings. Yes, they should have the access but they should also be taught that they need to think about things on their own instead of just expecting an answer to be handed to them for every question. I think it is very important that we are all prepared for these changes though. Great video!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this video, but it does scare me a little. Yes, I want my students and kids to have "all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes" but I don't want them to think they do not have to work hard for it. It will help children to come to information in a speedy way. I agree this is going to bring about a change in our society and we need to embrace it. We just need to be prepared for what is up ahead with these changes.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a touchy subject with many people, especially educators. Although I have mixed feelings on how much we should actually depend on technology, I feel that educating students with this new technology is imperative. We need to push education forward, not backwards regardless of our personal opinions. I must admit that I find it very useful to have "all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes". We need to teach our children how to utilize the newest technology, so that it may be beneficial to them. Whether we like it or not, the world of technology is changing; therefore, we must change with it!!
ReplyDeleteUnlimited knowledge sounds like fun to me. I don't see why this would not be something great for future students or my kids. I am sure there will be some issues that will have to be reactive in nature but sometimes we have to learn as we go. I think we have been preparing for this as a whole. I don't see anything scary about it as long as it is used properly.
ReplyDeleteTo have all of human knowledge at my finger tips is a wonderful thing. Never again should any of us be "left in the dark". Remember, computers only know and do what humans program them to do and know .I sometimes think the world was a simpler, happier place when all the world's news and events were not at our finger tips. However, today is a different time and place. The information is available to us and we should want to use it for our benefit.Perhaps to learn from it and become a better world. It will be interesting to see who wins, man or machine.
ReplyDeleteI think that having knowledge at the touch of a keystroke is something we take for granted! The majority of the world lives off of 2 dollars a day so they have probably never touched a computer and we have access to computers almost everywhere we go. Technology is such a powerful, precious tool. I would never want my students to be without it!!
ReplyDeleteCant wait to see the match. I would love any technical advances,by the human race,to be used by, not only a family member, but everyone. I'm thinking that Alzheimer, will be a thing of the past, when this computer power, and the technology to use it, is in place. Besides, we are all, in EDM 310, hopefully for the same reasons, to improved our knowledge, on the power of computers. I know i am!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it really depends on who's stroking the keys, to be honest. I've always despised those who willingly withhold knowledge from others in an attempt to control them, however, seeing as how powerful knowledge can be, and how dangerous it can make already dangerous people, the ability to access "all of human knowledge with a few key strokes", I believe, should be controlled in much the same way that nuclear weapons are controlled.
ReplyDeleteDoes that make me evil? I never thought I'd say something like that, but I've never been presented with such an issue either. After all, not all of the knowledge in the world is going to affect one's picking and choosing of it, nor will it determine whether someone will become greedy or meek. Knowledge is a tool - a weapon; and unfortunately, not any computer that will ever be designed can control the way we use it. Only we can do that.
I love Jeopardy and have seen the previews for the big event. I hope the humans win though! I know at some point, probably soon, computers will outsmart us. I have watched the "Matrix" trilogy and can't help but think of them when someone mentions robots/computers out-thinking humans. I don't want to be "robot chow"!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, though, I think technology is a good thing if one can learn balance. That really is the key problem most of us have with technology. If humans continue to depend on technology, will we get to the point where we cannot exist without them? That is my fear. As a future teacher and hopefully parent, that will be my goal, to teach my students and children to be able to function both with and without technology.
I would like to see our future generations be able to access knowledge with the click of a button. However, I think there needs to be a balance. I don't think that computers should start replacing human jobs because it is "smarter" than a human.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has made our lives more manageable. I understand Kurzweil's view about his cellphone. I don't go anywhere without having my cellphone. If I forget my cellphone at home I'm a nervous wreck. Cellphones is by far one of the greatest technical inventions made. Do I want my students and children to have this much access with a few keystrokes? No,because I think that it limit students abilities of writing and spelling. Students can easily click spell check when typing homework, but when they are using paper and pencil I think that students will concentrate on their writing and spelling because their only technology device is their own knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that at any moment I can find an answer to any question. We need to be able use the ability of knowledge to it's highest power.
ReplyDelete"We're creating them to make ourselves smarter. We're going to literally merge with them.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of merged with this already (Kurzweil holds up his cellphone). I don't go anywhere without it. And it gives me access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes."
Honestly I think that technology at the stroke of a wand is actually making the next generation less intelligent (other than the select few who are actually creating the new technology). No one has to retain information anymore, you just have to "Google it". Most of the time it goes in one ear and out the other!
To answer the question, Yes I want my students to have access to information with "a few keystrokes" BUT I also want them to know how to obtain information without it as well. I don't want my student to completely rely on the internet for all their source of information. What would happen if the U.S. ended up like Egypt right now where all cell, internet, etc is completely cut off.. How many people would be completely lost?? I want to teach my children not only how to use technology (and use it safely) but also how to survive without the use of instant information. Also not all students learn effectively through tools like that. Some need more hands on, tangible learning tools not through a screen. Now the statement of computers in our brain, umm no thank you. I would like to think for myself and work on expanding my knowledge the natural way, while using all tools ancient and new.
I do want my students and children to have access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes. However, I do not want them to be dependant on it. I want them to know that alternative ways of accessing information does exist, and I want them to know how to use those alternatives as well. I also worry that it will hinder students' learning ability in some areas. I think that schools still need to use paper and pencil techniques as well as research using books and libraries.
ReplyDeleteAs a future teacher, I do not want my students to go without “access to human knowledge with a few key strokes.” Technology in the classroom is an essential way of learning and without it teachers and students simply would not be able to do what they can today. I mean think about Dr. Strange’s class. Without technology EDM 310 would not be possible! Also, I hope to have children one day, and I do not want my children to not be prepared for the growth of technology. Technology is advancing, so as future teachers we need to be prepared to teach our students all that we can with technology because that will be their future as well.
ReplyDeleteI would love my students to have full access to everything. I know that technology is very important and forever expanding. I just dont want my students to depend only on using the computer. I would like them to learn how to use books and other resorces to gather information. On the other hand, what would I do without my phone!? Im going to have to agree with the idea. The world does revolve around computers and other high tech machines, so why not learn about them, and put them to good use!
ReplyDeleteI would like for my students to have full access to everything. This would lead to better resources and better thinking by my students. This would allow them to have a creative mind and also get to see what other people think of the same lessons.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is something that will be coming in the very near future. I think that this is something that many people know is available but do not always try to use it. I think that this is very valuable and should be used.
ReplyDeleteI agree that we have already "merged" ourselves with computer technology. Today's society is constantly connected. Computers, Smart phones, and ipods, allow us to access loads of information from anywhere. Honestly I would be lost without my Blackberry, and I could not revert back to using an ordinary phone. I think it is necessary in today's society to have "access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes".
ReplyDeleteYES, I want my students to have "full access to all of human knowledge with a few key strokes", however I don't want them to rely on it alone! I think that there has to be a balance so that we don't become so dependent on computers, technology and the internet that we can't function without it. We have to integrate things that have worked in the past in education with things that are working now in order to be successful in the future. We must always have the desire to learn and to use the newest technologies without losing the emotion and the excitement that only humans can have!
ReplyDeleteI have been saying for years now, I think we create alot of what we imagine as a human race. If the future we are headed toward is one depicted in movies like terminator or the matrix, then I say ignorance is bliss. I don't want my students or kids to have access to information like that. I don't think there is anything wrong with actually looking for answers as opposed to just googling it. On the other hand, its interesting to think of what future generations can accomplish with the access and abilities that weren't available to previous generations. I really don't know how I feel about it.
ReplyDeleteThis is a lot of information to process. After watching the video and reading the interview I really got wrapped up in the same quote you pointed out. Will computers take over the world? I think it's funny that most of us immediately thought of the Matrix. I understand most of his response, but I don't see how we are going to merge with technology. At some point, technology will advance beyond what we can comprehend.
ReplyDeleteThis is why it is important to teach future generations about technology. One day it will be up to them to keep up with the computers. However, I still think that they need to know how to do things without technology.
Kurzweil pointed out that people invent viruses and we are able to block them all the time. This does not mean that we will be able to block every virus that will ever be made. If a super virus is created (by humans or computers) than future generations will need to know how to do things with out them.
The question of EDM310 is actually very complex. I don't think that there is a definite answer one way or the other. Future generations are going to need knowledge of both. We can only learn about technology as it progresses and teach each other what we learn.
This was an interesting article. I would definetely not deny my students access to all human knowledge at the touch of a few keystrokes. This is to valuable a tool to just let it sit idle in the corner without being used. We need to help our students with access to every tool that is available.
ReplyDeleteI know that I certainly enjoy having access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes and I think that my students should definitely have that luxury too.It certainly makes life easier. However, I think it makes people less willing to actually learn because they know that if they forget something they can look it up again with the touch of a button. It's almost like if every test you ever took was open book and open notes. There would be no reason to ever learn the information.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way! I am always within reach of my iPhone and anytime I am away from it, I begin to freak out! It is nice to know that anything I need answered can be found by opening an application and typing a few words into google!
ReplyDeleteI have found, however, that it is sometimes nice to just set aside all of my technology and be free from it for a little while! While I think technology is a nice part of society, nothing can replace a few minutes outside in the fresh and beautiful weather that we have here on the coast, much like today's weather!
I want my students to have access to the world within a few keystrokes, but I want them to understand that it's simply a vessel. I believe these technologies are great and everyone should have access to it, and then I think they should draw their own conclusions from it. Believing something because they saw it on google is not critical thinking. If they can create their own thought process and use technology to develop those thoughts and ideas, that's when we've reached the ideal... in my opinion.
ReplyDelete~ Miles Bubbett
I enjoy using technology to an extent. I like being able to turn on a computer or browse the web on my phone to search for different things. However, I don't want my students or children to underestimate themselves by lowering their standards to never thinking about an answer but instead looking it up on the internet. Using the internet can be a powerful thing, but for some, they may become lazy learners. For example, it would be easy for a college student to skip a lecture on the War of 1812 or a specific history lesson because he/she could loo up the facts on the internet. I think learning in a classroom and thinking for yourself is highly important. As long as the internet is furthering that and not letting technology think for you, it is useful.
ReplyDeleteI think it is kind of scary that there is a computer that may be smarter than a human. I know technology is very important to our lives but maybe there should be some boundaries with technology. Who knows what some one could possibly create one day using technology. I think it is great to have access to all human knowledge with a few keystrokes. However, it is also very scary but that is the truth we are going to have to realize. Without this knowledge, our kids won't make it in the future.
ReplyDeleteChildren should defiantly have this access. Computers are not going away, very far from it actually. Computers are our children's future and they might be as intelligent or more intelligent as humans are right now, but who said that our kids, or future generations won't be smarter than computers? Having so much knowledge at the click of a button should help education. It definitely can't hurt!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it matters whether or not we want our children and students to have this access, because the reality is that they will have it. It will be a useful tool for them and for us as educators, even if the idea of a computer that is smarter than humans is a little scary.
ReplyDeleteI would like for my students to have access to all of human knowledge with a few keystrokes. I believe that technology is a great tool and should not be taken advantaged of. As a future educator, I think that students need to figure things out on their own and not rely on technology for the answers.
ReplyDeleteI would like for some old ways of finding out things to be brought back. I would like for our students to have to get a book out to look up something instead of relying on technology to do it for them.
ReplyDeleteI wrote this in my Blog Post #4:
ReplyDelete"I feel it is not only important to teach students how to be technologically literate, but to also be safe when using this technology. We cannot completely stop kids from accessing computers or cell phones or anything else you can use to access the outside world because it is everywhere. But we can teach them how to be safe when accessing it. I think teachers need to show students how to be safe when using the internet and when talking to people through technology. We need to be proactive in showing students what to watch out for and the things that are not appropriate on the internet, while also making sure they know that using technology can be very helpful in learning."
I think this applies to this post as well, because no matter what, our children will have access to this type of technology, that is inevitable. I am, like in the blog post, "merged" with my Blackberry, I do not go far without that phone in my hand! So I can't expect my children to be any different. But I can teach them to be safe and knowledgeable about what they are doing with these technological tools.
I indeed do believe that my children and students should be able to have as much information accessible to them as possible. The more access they have to information the better off they are at achieving intelligence. I do not mean that only in factual terms but also about them selves. They will be able to explore all subject/topics and learn about things that perchance they never would be exposed to otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI do think that computers will for the most be in control of the world. If we think about it, in countless ways they are already. For example if computers are down airports basically shut down, air traffic control can not monitor planes coming in or out, passenger tickets can not be issued or checked in, new flights and tickets can not be issued.
I read the article and watch the video and the fact that a computer is "taking over the world" is a little scary. They could possible eliminate jobs for people because they would not have to pay the computer to work. They could possibly put them in the classrooms and just have teachers their for hands on activities. It is almost like they want to make humans obsolete and have computer like technology take over. Thanks for sharing the article.
ReplyDelete