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The computer and the brain (The Computer and the Brain) (Category PopularScience)

#PopularScience #SelfDevelopment #Brain #Thinking #Architecture

It was with great interest that I read this popular science study comparing the human brain and computers. This book is incomplete and published posthumously. 70 years ago (into 1958 year). John originally prepared this material for the Silliman lectures at Yale.

The book itself is still relevant, and at one time was prophetic. It consists of three parts.

  1. The first part is devoted to the device of computers: memory, stored program code, analog and digital elements.
  2. The second part explores the brain in terms of neural networks, memory and logical depth.
  3. The informal third part deals with conclusions about the role of code and language in systems.36

Basic ideas: 1) Comparison of brain and computer Von Neumann views the brain as a computational mechanism, comparing it to modern computers. He analyzes the analog and digital aspects of the brain and machines, starting with the basic elements of neurons and transistors. The author explores differences and similarities in architecture, memory, information processing and the accuracy of the brain and computers. In fact, he combines theoryThe beginning of which was laid by Claude Shannon, as well as the idea of an abstract computer from Alan Turing. (so-called Turinger). 2) Key issues Is the brain an analog or digital automaton? (how we remember 50years 20 Ages of knowledge about the brain were stronger than today.) Can artificial intelligence reach the level of human intelligence? Von Neumann, based on the idea of the Turing machine, concludes that the differences between them are minimal, despite the difference in the building blocks. 3) The role of language and information At the end of the book, the question of what language the brain uses to process information is raised. Von Neumann suggests that this language may be less logically rigorous than conventional mathematical systems. It seems to me that this part ends with the seed - John was unable to finish his lectures due to an illness he could not overcome.

This book is interesting as an attempt to unite biology and computer science in the framework of cybernetics. 70 It also showed the way to an interdisciplinary approach to the study of intelligence, both natural and artificial. It is interesting that John von Neumann has done many more good things in various disciplines, including:

1) Computer architecture: Developed a concept von Neumann architecturewhich formed the basis of modern computers. The principles of this architecture are as follows: Unified memory storage for programs and data

  • The processor. The processor is designed to process data and execute commands from memory
  • Consistent execution of commands. Commands are executed one after another, in strict sequence.
  • I/O. I/O devices provide an interface between the computer and the outside world.
  • Addressable memory. All data and instructions have unique addresses in memory, allowing the processor to quickly access the desired information. 2) Game theoryTogether with Oscar Morgenstern, he laid the foundations of game theory. His theorem on minimax became the foundation for the study of strategic behavior in economics, politics and other fields. Interestingly, this work was interested in John Nash, who continued to dig into the topic of game theory, and then received a Nobel Prize for it. 3) Quantum mechanicsHe contributed to the mathematical foundation of quantum mechanics by developing von Neumann algebra and the Hilbert space concept to describe quantum systems. 4) The Manhattan Project: He participated in the development of the atomic bomb, proposing the concept of explosive lenses for symmetrical compression of the plutonium nucleus. 5) Cellular automata: He developed the theory of cellular automata and the concept of self-replicating systems, which became the basis for modeling complex systems and the development of artificial intelligence.

You can read more about John in the book "Man from the Future" (She's in line.) or interestingly article brief

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