Glossary

[ A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z ]

The following terms were defined from Webster's New World Dictionary of Computing Terms unless otherwise noted as a parenthetical citation.
The titles in brackets indicate the pages where the word was used.
For further definition of words listed below or words that are not listed, search the Free Online Dictionary of Computing.

A

analog--The kind of representation of continuously changing conditions.
["Pattern-Recognition", "Brain & Computer--Math & Logic", "Brain & Computer"]

anthropocentric--1. Regarding man as the central fact or final aim of the universe. 2. Interpreting reality exclusively in terms of human values and experiences.["To Be Human"]

AI--see artificial intelligence.[Every page]

artificial intelligence(AI)--The art of creating machines that perform functions that require intelligence when performed by people.(Kurzweil 14)
[Almost every page]

 

^{automated speech recognition(ASR)--Refers to the ability of a machine to recognize high-level patterns in human speech.  In general, the goal of ASR is to identify the words spoken.["Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]}

 

^{ASR--see automated speech recognition. ["Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]}

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B

binary notation--see binary system. ["AI Components"]

 

binary system--Any numeral, usually of more than one digit, expressing a sum in which the quantity represented by each digit is based on a radix of 2.  The digits used are 0 and 1.["Brain & Computer--Math & Logic"]

 

bit--1.  A binary digit; a digit(1 or 0) in the representation of a number in binary notation.  2.   The smallest unit of information recognized by a computer and its associated equipment.  Several bits make up a byte or a computer word.["Faster Computing"]

 

boolean algebra--A branch of symbolic logic similar in form to algebra but dealing with logical relationships instead of numerical relationships.  It lay dormant until it could be usefully applied to the fields of relay switching and electronic computers.  It was developed by English mathematician and logician George Boole (1815-1864).["Language" "Math & Logic"]

 

boolean logic--see boolean algebra.["Math & Logic", "Brain & Logic"]

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C

C--The full name of a programming language designed for use on microcomputers.  Combines high-level statements with low-level machine control to deliver software that is both easy to use and highly efficient.  C is very popular with system programmers because of its transportability between computer systems.

 

C++--An object-oriented version of the C programming language.  This language has been chosen by several large software publishers for major development projects.  The term C++ means "more than C."["AI Components--Software"]

 

cognitive science--The science of studying the mental process or faculty by which knowledge is acquired.(American Heritage Dictionary 289) ["Introductions", "Thoughts on Thought", "AI Components"]

 

compiler--A computer program whose purpose is that of translating high-level-language statements into a form that can directly activate the computer hardware.  Translates a complete program before any execution.["AI Components--Software"]

 

cognition--1. The mental process or faculty by which knowledge is acquired.  2. Something that comes to be known, as through perception, reasoning, or intuition; knowledge.(American Heritage Dictionary   289) [Nearly every page]

 

computer science--A field of knowledge embracing all aspects of the design and use o computers.  Aspects of computer science range from programming and computer graphics to artificial intelligence and robotics.  Offered as a degree program in many colleges and universities.["Start Page", "Introductions", "Thoughts on Thought", "Language", "Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification", "AI Components"]

 

conscious--a.  Having an awareness of one's own existence, sensations, and thoughts and of one's will, or perception; b.  Capable of thought, will, or perception.(American Heritage Dictionary 312) [ "Language",  "Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification"]

 

consciousness--The state or condition of being conscious.(American Heritage Dictionary 312) ["Introductions", "Thoughts on Thought"]

 

cybernetics--A branch of learning that seeks to integrate the theories and studies of communication and control in machines and living organisms.["Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification"]

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D

decision-tree--The pictorial representation of the alternatives in a situation.["Brain & Computer--Inference"]

 

digital--Pertaining to representation of information by encoding as bits of 1's or 0's that indicate on or off states.  Highly important in the technology of computers and data communications.[ "Introductions", "Brain & Computer", "Brain & Computer--Math &   Logic", "Pattern-Recognition", "Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]

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E

electro-chemical--Describing phenomena of the interaction between electricity and chemicals.(American Heritage Dictionary   443) ["Brain & Computer"]

expert system--An interactive computer program that helps users with problems that would otherwise require the assistance of human experts, programs that present the computer as an expert on some topic.  Expert systems capture knowledge in rules that can be communicated to others as advice or solutions.  The programs often simulate the reasoning process used by human experts in certain well-defined fields.["Brain & Computer--Indexing", "Brain & Computer--Inference", "Applications", "The Future"]

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F

frame--information stored in a group of related data.["Thoughts on Thought", "Brain & Computer--Knowledge Representation", "Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification"]

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G

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H

hardware--physical equipment, such as electronic, magnetic, and mechanical devices.["Brain & Computer", "AI Components--Hardware", "AI Components--Software"]

 

heuristics--A term describing an exploratory method of attacking a problem in which the solution is obtained by successive evaluations of progress toward the final results.["Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification"]

 

high-level programming--Any programming that allows users to write instructions in a familiar notation rather than in a machine code.  Each statement in a high-level language corresponds to several machine-code instructions.["Language"]

 

Horn clause format--An "If..Then" statement with a single consequence["AI Components--Software"]

 

humanistic--A doctrine or attitude that is concerned primarily with human beings and their values, capacities, and achievements.(American Heritage Dictionary  627)

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I

inference--The fitting of data to the rules in a knowledge base to produce a result. ["Brain & Computer--Indexing, "Brain & Computer--Inference", "Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification", "The Future"]

 

intelligence--a. The capacity to acquire and apply knowledge. b. The faculty of thought and reason. c. Superior powers of mind.(American Heritage Dictionary 668)

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J

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K

knowledge--1.  In artificial intelligence, symbolic information used by a domain expert to solve problems. 2.   Facts and relationships used to solve problems. [Nearly every page]

 

knowledge base--a data structure in which a computer can access knowledge. ["Brain & Computer--Knowledge Representation", "Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification", "To Be Human"]

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L

LISP(LISt Processing)--A method of processing data in the form of lists.  The procedure of going through a list and examining the objects in the list for a purpose, e.g., to find or deal a given element, or reorder the elements.  A high-level programming language especially suited for the text manipulation and analysis. ["Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification", "AI Components--Software"]

 

logical-positivist--a person who believes in a philosophical doctrine contending that sense perceptions are the only admissible basis of human knowledge and precise thought.

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M

machine code--An operation code that a machine is designed to recognize. ["AI Components--Hardware", "AI Components--Software"]

 

man-machine interface(MMI)--A surface forming a common boundary between man and machine. ["Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]

 

mechanistic--The view that phenomena are governed by physical interactions. ["Thoughts on Thought"]

 

microprocessor--The complex chip that is the central processing unit of the computer.  The job of the microprocessor is to control what goes on inside the computer. All the processing that a computer does takes place there.

 

mind-body problem--The philosophical question of how a nonphysical entity such as the mind may interact with and exert control over a physical thing such as  the body. ["Thoughts on Thought", "Brain & Computer", "The Future"]

 

MIDI--see musical instrument device interface. ["Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]

 

MMI--see man-machine interface.

 

musical instrument device interface(MIDI)--A standard communications protocol for the exchange of information between computers and sound-producing equipment, such as synthesizers. ["Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]

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N

natural language processing--The study of strategies for computer programs to recognize and understand language in spoken and written form. ["Introductions", "Brain & Computer--Knowledge Representation", "Pattern-Recognition--Sound", "To Be Human", "The Future"]

 

neural network--1.  A computer simulate of the brain.  2.  Self-organizing systems of simple interconnected processing units that possess a learning rule and are capable of learning. ["Thoughts on Thought", "Brain & Computer", "The Future--Faster Computing"]

 

neuron--1.  Any of the cells of nerve tissue consisting of a nucleated portion an dytoplasmic extensions, the cell body, and the dendrites and axons.  2.  In artificial intelligence, a neuron is a single computer in a neural network operating similarly to a biological neuron.(American Heritage Dictionary  839) ["Thoughts on Thought", "Brain & Computer", "Brain & Computer--How Biological Neurons Work", "Brain & Computer--Knowledge Representation", "The Future--Faster Computing"]

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O

optical computing--using beams of light to transmit data in a computer. ["The Future--Faster Computing"]

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P

parallel computing--Processing data using multiple processors and are able to perform many mathematical operations and decisions at the same time.  Unlike conventional supercomputers, which work on problems sequentially, massively parallel processing computers harness the computing power of hundreds or more microprocessors to tackle different parts of a problem at once. ["The Future--Faster Computing"]

parse--To break input into smaller pieces so that a program can act upon the information. ["Language",   "Language--Parsing Examples", "Language--Language Programs", "AI Components--Software"]

 

pattern-recognition--1.   The recognition of forms, shapes, or configurations by automatic means. A subfield of artificial intelligence.  2.  The use of a computer to identify patterns..  3.  The use of statistical techniques and templates to process and classify patterns of data. [Nearly every page]

 

philosophy--Inquiry into the nature of things based on logical reasoning rather than empirical methods.(American Heritage Dictionary 931) ["Introductions", "Brain & Computer--Math & Logic"]

prime number--A number that has itself and unity(one) as its only factors.(American Heritage Dictionary   984) ["Introductions", "Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification"]

 

processor--1.  The central processing unit of a computer.  2.  A compiler is sometimes referred to   as a language processor. ["Brain & computer", "Brain & computer--Knowledge Representation", "Brain & computer--Inference", "Brain & computer--Dynamic Modification", "AI Components--Hardware", "AI Components--Software", "The Future--Faster Computing"]

 

programming language--A set of statements that control the operations of a computer; a means for computer users to provide a series of instructions for a computer to follow.  There are four types of programming languages: machine language, assembly language, high-level language, and fourth-generation(object-oriented) language. ["Language", "AI Components--Hardware", "AI Components--Software"]

 

psychology--The science of mental processes and behavior.(American Heritage Dictionary  1000)  ["Introductions", "Thoughts on Thought", Brain & Computer--Indexing", "AI Components", "To Be Human"]

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Q

quantum computing--using electrons to store and calculate the bits in a computer. ["The Future--Faster Computing"]

 

qubit--short for "quantum bit," a qubit stores computer bits using electrons. ["The Future--Faster Computing"]

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R

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S

serial computer--A computer that processes information sequentially. ["The Future"]

 

strong AI--the belief that human intelligence is governed by physical laws so machines can be built to duplicate that type of intelligence. ["Introductions", "Thoughts on Thought", "Brain & Computer--Math & Logic", "To Be Human", "The Future"]

 

software--The generic term for any computer program or programs; instructions that cause the hardware to do work. [Nearly every page]

 

source code--Symbolic coding in its original form before being processed by a computer.  The computer automatically translates source code into a code the computer can understand.

 

speaker-independence--Refers to the fact that some features of a speech string are not dependent on who the speaker is.   "Speaker independence" also refers to the ability of a system for automatic speech recognition to understand any speaker, irrespective of whether or not the system has previously sampled that's speaker's speech.(Kurzweil 551) ["Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]

 

supercomputer--The fastest and most powerful computers available at any given time.  Supercomputers are used for computations demanding high speed and storage(e.g., analyzing weather data).(Kurzweil 551) ["AI Components--Hardware"]

 

superconductivity--The physical phenomenon whereby some materials exhibit zero electrical resistance at low temperatures.   Superconductivity points to the possibility of great computational power with little or no heat dissipation(a limiting factor today).(Kurzweil 551)  ["AI Components--Hardware"]

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T

top-down approach--Architectural discipline for computer program development wherein the high-level functions are coded and tested in an outline form early in the development process.  Lower-level detail is added and tested progressively.  From specifications and interfaces, the complete package is constructed beginning without he highest levels of control, such as job control languages and operating system services, progressing to program control modules, and extending to successively more detailed levels of program modules in a hierarchically descending structure. ["Pattern-Recognition--Sound"]

 

Turing Test--A game to determine whether a computer might be considered to possess intelligence, developed by British mathematician Alan Turing.  Participants include two respondents (a computer and a human) and a human examiner who tries to determine which of the unseen respondents is the human.  According to this test, intelligence and the ability to think would be demonstrated by the computer's success in fooling the examiner.   ["Introductions--The Turing Test", "Language--Language Programs", "Brain & Computer--Dynamic Modification", "The Future"]

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U

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V

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W

weak AI--The belief that machines can only emulate human intelligence. ["Introductions", "Introductions--The Turing Test", "Thoughts on Thought", "Language--Language Programs"]

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X

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Y

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Z