“Intuitive” Computers Will be Coaching Us?
Intuitive computing……..what? Yes, you heard correctly.
According to a new article from Cnet, and I quote, “Intuitive computing could even one day be used to “nurture” or “coach” its user by answering questions like: “‘Can you give some guidance? Should I become a fashion model or enroll in medicine?’ ”
The Intel exec said. “These are very long-term goals.” Whew. That’s a relief.
Next generation computers will be “aware of their surroundings, be able to read your moods,” not only give bizillions of bytes of information, but also…… give you advice. Your computer will know if you’re happy. It will know if you are eating what you should be eating.
I love technology, I do. But when I want a cookie, do I want to hide from my computer while I eat it?
As in “2001: A Space Odyssey,” will my computer say,” I’m sorry Linda, I can’t let you do that……?
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Comment by Leonardo Ravier on 11 April 2008:
I do not think that is possible.
An “intuitive computer” is a tremendous contradiction.
If we do not even know, for sure, how intuition arises in human beings, How we intend to make an “intuitive” computer?
According to the Spanish Royal Academy Dictionary , “intuition” is 1. F. Faculty to understand things instantly, without reasoning.
How can a computer transmit or “create” knowledge, if is not through binary code (zeros-o and ones-1)?
Simply, I believe that coaching, in the sense of awakening, discover or create new ideas or knowledge, is purely a HUMAN PROCESS.
PS: Another thing is to give “advice”. This is something that can do anyone(Children and adults), and anything (Nature, animals or just a book)….. but that is not coaching.
Comment by Lable on 12 April 2008:
A VERY interesting tidbit of information, Linda. Thanks for putting the spotlight on it because I think you are highlighting a key issue we much wrestle with.
While I agree that it is not possible to know exactly what will pop out as the processing capabilities of computers evolve, we know that something new will pop out. I think the key question is how we influence what it is.
Two principles come to mind here. First, one of the oldest dictums of information processing is Garbage-In-Garbage-Out. Second, we must not confuse the medium and the message.
Saying that Coaching will never come out of a computer is like saying that Coaching will never come out of a TV set. It does, and it will continue to do so. The key question, to me, is how much will the tool (whether it is the TV or the computer) merely transmit the Coaching, and how much will it create the Coaching. While TV does not seem to create Coaching, it does. How much are people coached on the norms of behavior by a Jerry Springer show, where the format is designed for ratings, not for Coaching. How much are the contestants on American Idol coached by the weekly votes of the audience.
Television does coach, and I think it does a terrible job at it - largely because we don’t recognize it as a Coaching tool and so don’t think about how to properly use it. We can’t afford to make the same mistake with computers. Stored programs will eventually coach, whether we want them to or not. You can’t shout at the oceans and stop the waves. The key question is who will be designing those stored programs and how can we influence the interaction?
Thanks, again, Linda, for raising this provocative topic.