The Coolidge examiner., 1931-05-01
Machines That Are
Almost Human
The Thinking Machine"
B y E. C. TAYLOR


to a machine that can think for
itself is a device in the Massachu-
setts Institute of Technology in
Boston, Mass. This machine has
the power to rapidly and accurate
ly solve problems In higher mathe-
matics that are beyond the power
of the human brain as yet demon
Strated.
It's technical name is the Michel
son-StrattOn harmonic analyzer and
was invented to aid Prof. Charles
A. Michaelson of the University of
Chicago in his studies of the speed
and curves Of light.
This wonderful machine won't
nave anything to do with problems
In simple arithmetic or algebra. But
1t dotes on calculus, that highest
branch Of mathematics which is a
short cut in solving problems by
means of mathematical equations.
Any problem can be submitted to
this machine, and the correct an
sWer will be forthcoming in a few
minutes. 1t would take human be-
ingS anywhere from a month to
year to get the answer to these
same problems, provided the human
being could get them at all, and the
machine is absolutely accurate. Il
eliminates weeks and months of in
tensive thought. Think of the saw
ing 1t effects in the wear and tear
hroinC M tote nd
gineers!
All engineers must know accu-
rately beforehand that If certain
work is done in a given way, it
must produce the result they de
sire. This often necessitates
waste of time. labor and mate
rials.
Scientists themselves call the
MISREPRESENTATION device real
thinking machine. It takes al
most any differential equation of
the second order in calculus and by
a combination of mechanical and
electrical means perfects the COM
putatiOn. 1t does this beyond the
power of the human brain so far
demonstrated And it does it In
from five minutes to half a day.
where it would take expert mathe
maticians from weeks 10 year
TO attempt to get the answer.
The handspring of the device Is
the common meter by which the
flow of electric current into homes
and factories is measured
The problems to be solved are
submitted to the machine as ques-
tiOns in the form of calculus equa-
tions. Each equation is written on
separate piece of. paper, and one
operator is at hand for each ques-
tiOn asked.
These sheets of paper are fas-
tened TO series of moving tables
above which are mounted pointers
which can be moved perpendicular
ly to the tables and which increase
or diminish the flow of electricity
through the meter.
The meter traces curve to
show the result as the tables move
under the pointers, and IL Is SIM
pie task for mathematicians to
translate the curve into The mathe-
matical equation that is the answer
to their problem.
One of the first problems placed
before this remarkable machine
proved its value to science and en-.
gineers. An engineer had drawn
complete plans for new type of
electric motor. He wanted to know
all about its performance in ad-
vance. So he asked the Nicholson
Stratton harmOic analyZer.
The machine was asked how fast
the motor could go; the best speed
at which II should be operated;
how long ii would last If operated
9t different speeds, and similar
questions that naturally arose to
he mind of the inventor
The questions were placed in the
machine, the tables moved, the
curve was drawn, and the engineer
had his answer. The machine re
piled to them all, and told him in
a short time how his motor best
should he operated. Tests of the
actual motor made during the next
two years showed that the machine
was absolutely accurate in its an
SwerS.
This is the only machine of its
kind in the world. Other harmonic
analyZerS have been blHlt and some
are in use in other scientific insti-
tutiOns. but they cannot approach
the Nicholson -StrattOn thinking
machine" in their ability to solve
problems that task the human
brain.
GO 1881 Western Newspaper UnionO