New-York tribune., 1874-04-24
AN AUToMAToN TO PLAY TIT-TAT.TOO

BY PROF FAIRMAN ROGERS OF PHILADELPHIA.
This paper described combinations Of mechanism for
initiating mental processes illustrated by means OF da
grams showing the peculiar requirements OF an auoma-
ton which should play the gamo OF tt-tatoo against
opponent; the play OF the automaton - DO resultant
effect Of the play Of his opponent.
Among the various classes into which machines may
be divided find those which have for their object the
transformation OF motion according TO various
quences is the clocks. certain portions or
moving machinery and especially calculating machines
In all apparatus being constructed according
TO a certain law, goes through operations automatically,
OF the human mind In the case OF the calculating ma
chine reproduces and extends in regular sequence
the form with which 1t starts
Babbage IN speaking Of his ANALYTICAL engine has sug
gested that machine might be made which would play
"A game OF combination such as draugbts provided the
Of tho machine himself could work out perfectly
the sequences of the game He does not appear 10 nave
published anything further tins subject except TO
suggest that the childs game OF uttatt00 Is the SIM
possible to be played by an automaton.
The author OF this paper hnds that the sequences OF
tins game being readily abuated 1t Is possible to ar
range machine which will follow them aud which Will
have the power OF apparently selecting the course
ways open TO 1t. Ii differs from the calculating
machine in 80 far that 1t not only follows out regular
sequence the result OF it, construction but 1t Is able
to follow out the principle of the game when modified
by varying and unexpected moves Of It's antagonist.
The manner III which this is done is briefly follows
The opponent the automatOn makes the hrst In
the game and in doing causes certain cylinder or
equivalent device to change its position Tnls from the
construction Of the apparatus causes the auomaton TO
make that play which the proper sequence of the
requires, aud at the same time moves the corresponding
cylinder into position. the next play OF the opponent
moves the third cylinder and the combination OF the
three cylinders determines the action OF the autOnaOn
for the fourth and throughout the sequence II the
player plays perfectly, tho game VIII be drawn 9s the
ponent makes mistake, the autOnaOn, by simple de-
vice. takes advantage OF it, and makes such play TO
win the game. Illustrations were tnen given on the
blackboard showing that there were three general con
ditiOns OF the problem the third being much more com
pllcated than the other two.
The application Of this mechanism to game of this
kind intended to illustrate Its character aud to show
that addition to apparatus for registering physical
phenomena, or for performing geOnetrical or mathe-
matca operations, may enable such mechanical de-
vices to have use much more extended than hereto
fore.
The paper of Prof Rogers excited much interest.
and the practicable character of the proposed autom-
atom was very clearly demonstrated. Prof. Hill
gard inquired how many pieces Of machinery were
necessary. Mr. Rogers said that in the first of the
three cases involved by the problem, there were ls
levers required In the second case, 80; III the third
4S. AS many cylinders were required as there are
units in the game; as many levers there are COM
| bnations. To ecOnOmize machinery, the board it.
| self turned round half or more.
| Prof. Hilgard asked whether we do not really
| think very much as the automaton acts-whether
| the mental process was not similar to the mechan.
cal Prof. Henry said that the question was trans
cendenta in its character. Mr.. Rogers mentioned
that several solitaire games could be played by an
automaton and that the machinery for this was very
simple but it had not the same interest as machine
| which could take advantage Of an opponents mis-.
| takes.
Three papers by Prof. A. NJ Mayer of the Stevens
Institute of Technology, Hoboken in tho absence of
their author, were read by the Secretary Of the
Academy.
FUNCTIONS AND MECHANISM OF ADDITION.