Notes on Chapter 2: Mind in the Machine

This chapter introduces the key concept of point to point vs. associative brain systems.  Associative systems are important to the rest of the book because they form the basis of what the authors claim is the foundation to intelligence - the ability to associate two otherwise unrelated pieces of information.

The sensory system that serves as the primary example of this--smell--is also key because the authors will argue that this sense was very important to early mammals.

The part of the chapter that compares and contrasts computers with human brains highlights the ways that brains and computers differ.

• A brain always comes with an associated body.  A computer has a case, peripherals, etc. but it cannot really do anything on its own.  
• A brain will learn from experience and modify its behaviors.  Generally speaking, a computer will not learn from experience nor will it spontaneously change its behavior.
• Changing the size of the brain results in new and different abilities.  Making a computer faster or giving it more memory generally does not change its capabilities.

I don't entirely buy into the argument that increasing computer power does not result in new capabilities.  Improvements to computer speed, size, user interface and storage have transformed the way that they are used.  They have gone from being a very specialized piece of equipment to an almost indispensable tool that everyone uses.

Computers from 1940 to 1970 were extremely difficult to use and were applied to very specialized applications.  From 1970 to 1990 computers began to be accessible to the average person, being incorporated in everything from toasters to traffic signals.  The user interface also changes from things like paper tapes and punch cards tapes to screens and floppy drives.  From 1990 to 2010, computers have become increasingly useful until now a business person wouldn't look dressed without a laptop.