Hmmm... isn't the behavioral pattern that our brain generates a simulation based on learned and pre programmed responses, too? The brain's just an environment-mapper through the senses, as it gradually accomodates synaptic strength and nerve sensibility to what is required to map the environment in such a way that it will allow the organism to survive in this "simulation" (which is not "the real" world - eg, we only see a limited number of wavelengths and don't see heat).
In theory it is possible, but for the moment, though artificial neural networks have taken us a long way, there remains the problem of a) the senses that provide the input that will shape that brain; b) re-representation of knowledge. It's been done, but difficult. The problem is how sensory knowledge gets integrated, and then how this step-by-step real world learning gives rise to higher order thought, thought that necessarily is conscious. Which brings us to the main question: can a man-made machine be conscious? I think it can, but the problem is, will this consciousness resemble human consciousness enough for us to recognize it as such?
End of lecture :-)
reply
share
marsodyssey2010
18 years ago
Except, in an organic being, emotions are generated using a complex series of chemical messangers that have their own individual reactions on different parts of the brain and trigger different reactions in different parts of the body.
In a robot, the brain is simply instructed to 'feel' a certain way, and its software responds to this instruction by mimicking the physiological effects.
There is a biological reason why we blush when we are embarrassed or feel sick when we are nervous, a robot can only simulate these things. And only needs to simulate them for our benefit, not its.
Equally, we must mentally condition ourselves to overcome an emotion such as fear, a robot can siply send a command to counteract the 'feel fear' command.
English Language Anime: Dub it, don't pervert it.
reply
share