We had four of these companies actually install demonstrators on computers in the School of Computer Science for the conference participants to use. As for the results of the conference, Brook says the field is so experimental, and the possible applications so far reaching that it is impossible to say. One researcher has already used this technology to develop a system to recognize early warning symptoms of Alzheimer's in brain scans that is vastly superior to human experts. Connectionism really is a whole new way of thinking about information-processing. We need people to sort these out, and work out how they related to existing concepts.
Philosophers have a major contribution to make in that area.
Students in the cognitive science program have some new facilities to help them make that contribution. Nortel has donated 25 Macintosh computers, a Sparc II and a laser printer to the University to form the basis of a Cognitive Science Computer Laboratory. The lab, which also has DOS platforms, will be also be available for students in other IIS programs such as environmental studies, child studies, directed interdisciplinary studies, and to students using the facilities of Equity Services, which shares the 22nd floor of the Dunton Tower. With their support, we are creating a facility that will continue to attract top students in this rapidly growing group of programs.