you have to program every output, right?

[kylefoley76]

When designing a computer program, you have to define all inputs, and each input has to have one output, right?

Moreover, a computer can not perform an output that it has not been programmed for, right?

I need to know this for a debate on artificial intelligence and philosophy of mind.

 

[shg]

each input has to have one output, right?

1+2=3 has two inputs and one output

 

[kylefoley76]

what about a computer can't perform an output that it hasn't been programmed for?

also I would think the equals sign would be the input. everything to left of the equal sign is the input, everything to the right of the sign is an output.

 

[shay06]

1+2=3 has two inputs and one output

correct me if I'm wrong (as I very well may be )

wouldn't 1 and 2 be seperate individual inputs with + being the process that produces 3, the output?

 

[shg]

everything to left of the equal sign is the input, everything to the right of the sign is an output.

Input is collective and outputs are counted? I reckon if you get to fashion your own definitions, most anything is true.

what about a computer can't perform an output that it hasn't been programmed for?

That is trivially true, until you start playing with semantics.

 

[kylefoley76]

ok, what about in artificial intelligence you would have to define every input. A computer cannot define a new input on its own, right?

Also still waiting about whether or not a computer can perform an output that it hasn't been programmed for.

 

[shg]

ok, what about in artificial intelligence you would have to define every input

Just to keep this grounded, suppose you provide a concrete example?

 

[MrKowz]

I'd argue the point that when two or more outputs conflict (bug/glitch), then an output that has not been exclusively programmed can occur.

 

[kylefoley76]

about the bugs: they usually just cause the computer to stall, right? in any case, they certainly do something unwanted.

re a precise example: let's say the computer is designed such that it "knows" or can handle a finite list of 20K english words. if it encounters a foreign word not on that list, it can't do anything, right?

 

[MrKowz]

about the bugs: they usually just cause the computer to stall, right? in any case, they certainly do something unwanted.

Stalls are the least of the worries. I can remember times when playing video games where sometimes text and numbers would be replaces with other sprites (pictures). If I reset the game and made it back to that same point, that glitch may (or may not) occur.