reponse to 'Extend Memory'

Accuracy and Flexibility

David Mather, “Extended Memory: Early Calculating Engines and Historical Computer Simulations” Leonardo, Vol. 39, No.3 pp236-243, 2005

Except the difference of physical structures, the main distinctness between a human’s brain and a computer is the ability of abstract thinking. Although the computer does accurately in information gathering, data analyzing and result calculating, hardly can it pursue the human brains’ ability of abstract logic, emotional memory and flexible thinking. However benefiting from the dramatic development of computer techniques, this gap is shortened little by little.

According to this article, the author tries to analyze the distinction between accuracy and flexibility by means of comparing the early development of computer and the advanced Virtual Reality technique.

In nineteen Century, the rudiment of computer, actually the calculating engines, could deal with some simple mathematical calculation via the mechanical operations. In term of limited information source, this machine could be viewed as our mind’s extension, which helped us to observe, analyze and summarize our world accurately. However, facing to complicated and divers world, a question became puzzling us simultaneously---does this accurate cognitive technique make us approaching to the essential facts of our world or apart from? Actually, the more effort we pay out, the less fruit we get. There was increasing demand of a computer which can calculate and analyze more abstractly and flexiblely. To meet this demand, Analytical Engine, a rudiment of modern digital computer, which can calculate abstractly, was invented in 1834.

A similar change happened in the field of Virtual Reality applications, which emphasize on the representation historical events. For example, to reopen the investigation of the Blood Sunday, which is a terrible violent event happened twenty years ago, the court developed a virtual reality program, which simulated the environment of the day, to help 900 witnesses to recall the accurate facts of that incident. Based on the historical photos, maps, architectural drawing and closed-circuit television record, the program is flexible and changeable. In one hand, this virtual reality environment help witnesses to recall the fading memories, in the other hand, they can correct the incorrect information and perfect the program to approach to the accurate fact. Actually, in here, the ‘memory’ did no longer belong to either an individual witness or an official record document. In stead, it was ‘a collective memory system’, which used a flexible measure to guarantee the accuracy and justice of the law.

Our world is complicated including too many information. To recognize it accurately, hardly can we have an accurate way to realize this goal directly, because of countless veneers covered on the fact. Therefore we have to try deal with that through a flexible way.