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Similiarities and differences(page
2)
The Differences
a) Workings
Brain
cells signal each other electrochemically
and enzymatically while compter components transmit
stronger electrical signals
through conductors.
The
brain uses chemicals to produce weak electrical signals to communicate
with its other parts while the computer uses cables, wires and circuits
to transmit artificial, stronger electrical signals that travel
many times faster than those of the brain.
Computers, being an eletronic
invention of mankind would use eletrical conductors to operate.
The human brain being biological uses tiny chemical reactions to
produce its signals.
b)
Common sense
Computers have no common sense or real intellect unlike the human
brain.
Computers
can only follow instructions and rules preset by the programmer,
they are still not complex enough to understand, analyse and learn
about the world like the brain does. Traditional A.I. manages to
imitate and resemble human intellect because programmers try to
make the computer react like a human brain by defining a set of
rules and expectations of behaviour for the computer to follow.
c) evolution
The brain can evolve but it has hardly
changed for the past 100,000 years. The computer is rapidly changing
with technology.
The brain
still weights 3 pounds after 100000 years, while we have already
lost count of the difference models of computers that have come
out since the past decade.
d)
evolution
Although both can increase their memory storage capacity, they use
difference methods.
Computer memory grows by
adding computer chips. Memories in the brain grow by stronger synaptic
connections
e) Capabilty
The brain can learn and understand better,
while the computer can multitask and perform complex actions.
It is much easier and faster for the brain to learn new things.
Yet, the computer can do many complex tasks at the same time ("multitasking")
that are difficult for the brain. For example, try counting backwards
and multiplying 2 numbers at the same time. However, the brain also
does some multitasking using the autonomic nervous system. For example,
the brain controls breathing, heart rate and blood pressure at the
same time it performs a mental task.
f) Emotions vs Logic
It is impossible for the brain to act without
emotions while computers act only on logic.
Researchers already proved that brains act on emotions, that many
of our actions are based on our emotional side. We know that compters
act completely on logical bits, that are total absolute. All actions
performed by computers are based on the instructions in their coding
and other factors have no effect on them.
g) Mantainance
Repairing a computer is relatively simple
compared to brain surgery.
It is easier to fix a computer - just get new parts. There are no
new or used parts for the brain. However, some work is being done
with transplantation of nerve cells for certain neurological disorders
such as Parkinson's disease. Both a computer and a brain can get
"sick" - a computer can get a "virus" and there are many diseases
that affect the brain.
h) Working hours
The computer can be turned off, but not
the brain (it works for 24 hours a day).
The brain is always changing and being modified. There is no "off"
for the brain - even when an animal is sleeping, its brain is still
active and working. The computer only changes when new hardware
or software is added or something is saved in memory. There IS an
"off" for a computer. When the power to a computer is turned off,
signals are not transmitted.
i) Imagination and Creativity
The computer can hardly innovate and invent
new ideas unlike the brain.
The computer is faster at doing logical things and computations.
It can do creative innovation, but only by using preset algorithms
to merge current ideas(which only presents a limited range of creavity).However,
the brain is better at interpreting the outside world and coming
up with new ideas. The brain is capable of imagination.
j) Complexity
The brain has 100 billion neurons which
form billions of links is many many times more complex than, the
mere hundreds of millions of transistors and circuit in today's
computers.
Scientists understand how computers work (of course, they created
them). There are thousands of neuroscientists studying the brain.
Nevertheless, there is still much more to learn about the brain
because of their complexity. There is more we do NOT know about
the brain, than what we do know about the brain
b) The Bottom Line
Counting all the simlirities and
differences of the brain and the computer, you would now see that
the computer and the brain do have somethings in common, but in
many more ways they are actually more different than they are similiar.
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