The second midterm exam will be given during the first hour of this class. This exam will focus on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, including the analogy between artificial intelligence and human intelligence.  Questions on articles from the TimesTech page and on Jona's, Deborah's and Andy's presentations will be delayed until the final, which will be more comprehensive, focusing on the consilience between the various topics we have studied.

After the exam, we will introduce the material on the April 23 page.

For this exam, I want you to really focus on the AI material, including Webmind.

Essay questions will be similar to the following:

1.    Compare and contrast recursive and evolutionary algorithms.   Give an example of how each might be used.

2.    Compare and contrast Neural Net architecture with the architecture of the traditional Von Neumann machine.  Give an example of each.

3.    Describe the distinctive features of the Webmind software and show how its organization is similar to that of the brain.

4.    Explain the concept  of semantic universals and how these are thought to function in the brain and in the Webmind software.

Here are some sample multiple choice questions:

1.   Which kind of algorithm refers back to itself repeatedly, doing the same operation again and again:
     a.  recursive   b.  neural net   c.  evolutionary

2.   Which approach is more hierarchal in nature:
      a.  VonNeumann architecture     b.  neural net architecture

3.   Webmind is:
     a.  an exact model of the functioning of the brain
     b.  a huge neural net with no predefined structure
     c.  a dual network linking nodes which interact with each other
     d.  a traditional VonNeumann machine
     e.  modeled on the social organization of a colony of African spiders

4.  Noam Chomsky's linguistic theory argues that:
     a.  each language has a fundamentally different way of understanding the world
     b.  all languages are fundamentally the same

5.  Webmind relies on which assumption:
     a.  there are linguistic universals
     b.  languages are fundamentally different

6.   The brain:
     a.  is directed from a central command center in the cerebrum
     b.  has no such central command post which regulates its functioning

7.  Webmind uses:
     a.  hierarchical organization
     b.  heterarchal organization
     c.  both of the above
     d.  neither of the above

8.  The Big Blue chess program relies primarily on:
     a.  recursive algorithms
     b.  neural net algorithms
     c.  evolutionary algorithms

9.  Handwriting recognition programs rely primarily on:
     a.  recursive algorithms
     b.  neural net algorithms
     c.  evolutionary algorithms

10.  Webmind uses:
     a.  recursive algorithms
     b.  neural net algorithms
     c.  evolutionary algorithsm
     d.  all of the above
     e.  none of the above.