Agreed. I suspect that nature uses a lot of goto's as well. Goto's produce 'code' that is hard for us to understand. Perhaps the only efficient way to grow the 'wiring' that constitutes a human brain is organically without concern for complication. I suspect (I do not know, I'm not an expert) that as long as AI researchers look for an elegant solution, they are destined to miss the goal. Nature's designer doesn't seem to share the human passion for regular polygons, straight lines and clearly stated theorems. Physicists may dismiss such thinking, I don't know that biologists would.
From the very beginning MIT has made it clear that this is NOT the path to a degree, but rather a way for those who want to learn, to access extremely high quality educational material. They have made their "idealism" very clear. I applaud them. I am sure many in poorer countries will do likewise, whilst hungrily gobbling up knowledge. It will be of great assistance to schools of all stripes in developing nations as they seek to "add meat" to their curriculums.
I love to learn. I am 50 yr. old US citizen, without a college, degree but wish I had one. However, a LOVE of learning drives my 3 or 4 hours of study per day, NOT the dream of a degree -- diminishing marginal returns, blah, blah. I am almost drooling at the possibility of access to such materials.
This initiative is not about helping poor, starving US dot commers who have just experienced a reality check get a free/cheap degree, or a better job. MIT is truly practicing the "Golden Rule".
Congratulations on a reasoned and reasonable assessment. Being a monopoly in and of itself is not illegal, of course, only the abuse of monopoly power is illegal.
Slashdot Mirror
Agreed. I suspect that nature uses a
lot of goto's as well. Goto's produce
'code' that is hard for us to
understand. Perhaps the only efficient
way to grow the 'wiring' that
constitutes a human brain is organically
without concern for complication. I suspect (I
do not know, I'm not an expert) that as
long as AI researchers look for an elegant
solution, they are destined to miss the
goal. Nature's designer doesn't seem to
share the human passion for regular
polygons, straight lines and clearly
stated theorems. Physicists may dismiss such
thinking, I don't know that biologists
would.
Brent
From the very beginning MIT has made it clear that this is NOT the path to a degree, but rather a way for those who want to learn, to access extremely high quality educational material. They have made their "idealism" very clear. I applaud them. I am sure many in poorer countries will do likewise, whilst hungrily gobbling up knowledge. It will be of great assistance to schools of all stripes in developing nations as they seek to "add meat" to their curriculums.
I love to learn. I am 50 yr. old US citizen, without a college, degree but wish I had one. However, a LOVE of learning drives my 3 or 4 hours of study per day, NOT the dream of a degree -- diminishing marginal returns, blah, blah. I am almost drooling at the possibility of access to such materials.
This initiative is not about helping poor, starving US dot commers who have just experienced a reality check get a free/cheap degree, or a better job. MIT is truly practicing the "Golden Rule".
Blessings on MIT!
brrent
Congratulations on a reasoned and reasonable assessment. Being a monopoly in and of itself is not illegal, of course, only the abuse of monopoly power is illegal.