The problem with that theory is that computers actually *are* analog at the bottom, we just hide as much of the analog behavior as possible through clever tricks.
It also ignores the fact that there are such things as analog computers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_computer
And it also ignores the possibility of quantum computers becoming viable in the not-too-distant future.
Most scientists (seem to) believe that the 'mind' is emergent from the 'brain' using purely classical electrical, chemical, and physical processes. I believe that in the next 10-20 years this view will be proven incorrect and that we will uncover some (possibly subtle) quantum-level interactions going on in there that will explain, on some level, why we seem to be beings of perception that isn't sufficiently explained by purely classical physics. The 'stuff' of the universe looking back at itself.
Knowing that our spark of consciousness relies on some quantum-mechanical process wouldn't really explain anything but it would give us some deeper insight into what it means to be made of the magical stuff of the universe that is energy (and the matter that it creates).
Slashdot Mirror
Law of Gravy, some typos are just too funny. Made me hungry.
We want to be like merry old England I guess. Cheers
Something like this maybe?
http://labs.google.com/papers/googlecluster.html
Good point... at least the bottom of what we can observe... we really have no clue what's really going on below that.
The problem with that theory is that computers actually *are* analog at the bottom, we just hide as much of the analog behavior as possible through clever tricks. It also ignores the fact that there are such things as analog computers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_computer And it also ignores the possibility of quantum computers becoming viable in the not-too-distant future. Most scientists (seem to) believe that the 'mind' is emergent from the 'brain' using purely classical electrical, chemical, and physical processes. I believe that in the next 10-20 years this view will be proven incorrect and that we will uncover some (possibly subtle) quantum-level interactions going on in there that will explain, on some level, why we seem to be beings of perception that isn't sufficiently explained by purely classical physics. The 'stuff' of the universe looking back at itself. Knowing that our spark of consciousness relies on some quantum-mechanical process wouldn't really explain anything but it would give us some deeper insight into what it means to be made of the magical stuff of the universe that is energy (and the matter that it creates).
Perhaps Heat = Noise*mach(1)^2 :)