Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/04/04

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Photoshop! The Leica of...
From: "George Kenney" <georgekenney@earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Apr 2001 21:15:00 -0400
References: <3ACBB0AA.AAD846DD@camera-craftsman.com>

For an interesting take on Turing and other ideas, see "Shadow's 
of the Mind" and "The Emperor's New Mind" by Roger Penrose.

Cheers,

G.

On 4 Apr 2001, at 20:59, Johnny Deadman wrote:

> on 4/4/01 7:39 PM, Simon Stevens at simon@camera-craftsman.com wrote:
> 
> > What is a "Turing Machine"? I know who Alan Turing was and Ive heard
> > of the Turing test (and sometimes I'm convinced that's what the LUG
> > is), but I haven't heard this term before.
> 
> A Turing machine is a kind of theoretical computer that reads digital
> data, performs a particular set of operations on them, and outputs
> digital data.
> 
> The point about a Turing machine is that given a certain minimum set
> of operations the machine is capable of performing, a Turing machine
> is capable of carrying out any intellectual task we know an algorithm
> for. This is important because it shows we don't need more and more
> powerful computers to solve more and more difficult problems. The most
> basic Turing machine imaginable is quite capable of solving the most
> difficult problem imaginable *given enough time*. EG a sinclair
> spectrum could have passed the Turing test, given that we knew how to
> program *any* computer to pass the test.
> 
> There is a lot about Turing machines in Hofstadter and Bennet's GODEL,
> ESCHER, BACH, which is one of those books everyone should read at
> least twice...
> 
> My analogy was that Photoshop is capable of carrying out any graphical
> manipulation task you throw at it, *given that you know how to do it!*
> -- Johnny Deadman
> 
> http://www.pinkheadedbug.com
> 
> 

In reply to: Message from Simon Stevens <simon@camera-craftsman.com> ([Leica] Photoshop! The Leica of...)