White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-07-16
| Machines That Are
Almost Human
The "Thinking Machine"
By E. G. TAYLOR

The thinking Machine"
DROBABLY the nearest approach to
l a machine that can think for it.
self is device In the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology in Boston,
Mass. This machine has the power
to rapidly and accurately solve prob
lens in higher mathematics that are
beyond the powers of the human
brain as yet demonstrated.
It's technical name is the Nicholson
Stratton harmonic analyzer and was
invented to aid Prof. Charles A. Mich
elson Of the University of Chicago in
his studies Of the speed and curves Of
light.
This wonderful machine won't have
anything to do with problems in SIM
pie arithmetic or algebra. But it
dotes on calculus, that highest branch
Of mathematics which is short cut
in solving problems by means Of
mathematical equations.
Any problem can be submitted to
this machine, and the correct answer
will be forthcoming in few minutes.
1t would take human beings anywhere
from month to year to get the an
swers to these same problems, provid-
ed the human being could get them
at all, and the machine Is absolutely
accurate. It eliminates weeks and
months of intensive thought. Think
Of the saving it effects in the wear
and tear on the brains Of scientists
and engineers!
All engineers must know accurately
beforehand that If certain work Is
done in given way, it will produce
the result they desire. This often ne
cessitates a waste of time, labor and
materials.
Scientists themselves call the Mich
DEMONSTRATION device real thinking
machine" 1t takes almost any differ
entail equation of the second order in
calculus and by a combination of me-
chanfcal and electrical means perfects
the computations It does this be-
yond the power of the human brain
so far demonstrated. And 1t does it
In from FIVE minutes to half day,
where it would take expert mathema-
ticians from weeks to year to at
tempt to get the answer.
The handspring of the device is the
common meter by which the flow of
electric current into homes and fac
tories is measured.
The problems to be solved are SUBJ
mitted to the machine as questions in
the form of calculus equations. Each
equation is written on separate piece
Of paper, and one operator is at hand
for each question asked.
These sheets of paper are fastened
to series Of moving tables above
which are mounted pointers which can
be moved perpendicularly to the tables
and which increase or diminish the
flow of electricity through the meter.
The meter traces a curve to show
the result as the tables move under
the pointers, and it is simple task
for mathematicians to translate the
curve into the mathematical equation
that Is the answer to their problem.
One of the first problems placed be-
fore this remarkable machine proved
it's value to scientists and engineers.
An engineer had drawn complete plans
for new type of electric motor. He
wanted to know all about It's perform
ance in advance. So he asked the
characterization harmonic analyzer.
The machine was asked how fast
the motor could go; the best speed at
which 1t should be operated; how long
it would last If operated at different
| speeds, and similar questions that nat
urally arose in the mind of the in
| ventor.
The questions were placed in the
machine, the tables moved, the curve
was drawn, and the engineer had his
answer. The machine replied to them
| all, and told him in short time how
his motor best should be built and
best operated. Tests Of the actual mo-
tor made during the next two years
showed that the machine was absolute
| ~ accurate in Its answers.
This is the only machine Of its kind
in the world. Other harmonic analy-
zers have been built and some are in
use in other scientific institutions, but
they cannot approach the Nicholson
Stratton thinking machine" in their
ability to solve problems that task the
| human brain.
co. 1881. Western Newspaper Union.l
Where Clemenceau Died