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From: spaceboy@indirect.com (s p a c e b o y)
Subject: Re: Computers--Next stage in evolution? Hmmmmmm.....
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Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 11:00:27 GMT
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Henry Choy (Henry_Choy@engr.usask.ca) wrote:
: Neil Rickert (rickert@cs.niu.edu) wrote:
: : In <Pine.HPP.3.91.950203180950.2623B-100000@alnilam.krl.caltech.edu> Merk <merk@krl.caltech.edu> writes:
: : >On 1 Feb 1995, Neil Rickert wrote:
: : >> In <3gpddj$t2b@usenet.rpi.edu> davisd@pleiades.cs.rpi.edu (Demetrius L. Davis) writes:

: Language acquisition is one thing, but communications is quite
: another.

: The telephone is not instinctive even if it is user friendly. I don't
: instinctively know phone numbers and modem commands.

: Ballpoint pens are not instinctive. Laser printers are not
: instinctive.

: Not instinctive implies need to learn.

Hmmm.  But Henry, which came first language or communications?  
Communications obviously existed long before language.  On the other 
hand, not all language communicates a coherent idea.  I don't consider 
posting spurious unattached ideas as being a coherent communication, 
although it IS language we will agree.  Is your point that lifeforms must 
communicate through devices?  Hmm... my vocal chords have no instincts 
which I can observe, although I am able to manipulate them to form 
sounds.  Have I always "known" this?  

If I were to throw a ball point pen or a laser printer at you that would 
DEFINITELY communicate an idea.  This is body language.

"Not instinctive implies need to learn"... "Instinct" is a word with 
degrees of meaning, some much closer to learning than "pre-programed" 
actions.  Although a proto-human may have grunted "instinctively", 
manipulating vocal chords to produce what appears to be a "PRE-THOUGHT" 
result could be seen as learning OR instinct.  Depends on your side of 
the argument.  Your single statement needs a little support.


s p a c e b o y @ i n d i r e c t . c o m

