Synopsis
Dr. Von Neumann's views on the analogies between the human brain and computing machines
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Review
Whether they think it's impossible or inevitable, most people have highly polarised views on artificial intelligence. John von Neumann, genius, mathematician and inventor of the nearly ubiquitous computer architecture bearing his name, blazed trails for both camps in The Computer and the Brain.
This short book, originally written for Yale's Silliman lectures but published posthumously, summarises his views on machine and biological intelligence with unprecedented clarity and precision. His understanding of neuroscience was that of a brilliant and strongly motivated amateur at the end of the 1950s, good enough to take on the problem but by no means matching his comprehension of the machines to which he had devoted much of his professional life. Still, his take on intracranial computation is stunningly prescient--he looks beyond the then-fashionable digital metaphors to suggest a semi-analogue strategy that uses parallel processing to make up for its deficiency in speed.
Prominent neuroscientific thinkers Paul M. Churchland and Patricia S. Churchland provide a brief, enlightening foreword to the second edition, placing the author's thinking in context and grounding the reader in the scientific milieu that gave rise to The Computer and the Brain. Though his computer architecture is slowly growing obsolete, von Neumann has given us a more lasting legacy in his thinking about thinking. --Rob Lightner
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The Computer and the Brain
Seller: Calliopebooks, Potomac, MD, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good++. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good++. Yale Univ Press. Stated eighth printing (1974). Missing dust jacket otherwise book has no marks, clean tight and bright, grey cloth hardcover is clean and strong black lettering on spine is clean, light fading to a few letters on spine. Seller Inventory # SKU1026089
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The Computer and the Brain
Seller: Fables Books, Goshen, IN, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: good. A former college library book with all the expected stamps, stickers and markings. Some shelf, storage or usage wear present. The binding is tight and all pages are present. Missing dustjacket. The pages appear unmarked. Pictures available upon request. Individually inspected by Scott. Thanks for supporting an independent bookseller! Seller Inventory # FBV.0300007930.G
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The Computer and the Brain
Seller: ThriftBooksVintage, Tukwila, WA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. No Jacket. Dust jacket missing. Later printing. Shelf and handling wear to cover and binding, with general signs of previous use. Eleventh Printing. 1979. Pages are clean. Binding is tight. Secure packaging for safe delivery. Seller Inventory # 1764250797
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The Computer and the Brain
Seller: YESIBOOKSTORE, MIAMI, FL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: As New. Seller Inventory # 0300007930-VB
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The Computer and the Brain
Seller: Griffin Books, Stamford, CT, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. 1979 11th printing missing the jacket. Tight and unmarked. Please email for photos. Larger books or sets may require additional shipping charges. Books sent via US Postal. Seller Inventory # 102301