I Think Therefore IB

The computer mouse is celebrating its fortieth birthday. Seems hard to believe, doesn’t it? The BBC also published another article, detailing the technological advances ever since the mouse was invented – it’s gone from wood mouse to touch pad. At this point in time computer developers are working with so-called “gestural computer mechanisms like touch screens and facial recognition devices”. According to the second article, these mechanisms “recognise your face in real time” and distinguish “even when you smile”. It also reports that new “emotive systems where you can wear a headset and control a computer by simply thinking” have been on the market since September. All of this is of course highly interesting for us, and evokes some complex questions, including CAN A MACHINE THINK? – which was a ToK essay title a few years back.

What do you believe? Can a machine think?
And, do you agree or disagree with the second article that the computer mouse will die out? (Personally I do… I rarely use a mouse. And although ‘mouse potato’ – in lieu of ‘couch potato’ – was one of the new words of 2006, I don’t think it’s anywhere near as catchy as the original word, nor as permanent).