A Mind-Blowing Story, Part Three

February 17, 2010

In spite of our learning that different parts of the brain serve different functions, the brain remains the most complex yet least understood human organ.

When headlines trumpet that there will soon be a computer that will match or supersede the intelligence of the human brain, in some ways that really isn’t saying much. Why? We’ve only skimmed the surface of understanding how the brain works or what it’s capable of. It’s true that computers can be programmed to operate faster at performing multiple complex tasks simultaneously as compared to humans, and they transmit information faster than the brain. The average brain has weighed about three pounds for the past 100,000 or so years, while computers have evolved exponentially in only a few decades.

But the human brain has certain advantages over computers. For instance, the brain is always “on”, even when you’re asleep. When inspiration strikes in the middle of the night, you have your brain to thank for working overtime to solve your problems. The brain constantly acquires and organizes new information even when you don’t realize it, while a computer can add to its memory only what is input. And the human brain can be remarkably adaptable, using new pathways to compensate when old ones are damaged. 

A computer, on the other hand, won’t look for new ways to get the job done when its motherboard dies or it’s not attached to an adequate power supply. Perhaps what is most unique about the human brain is, well, the uniqueness of your brain. As we learned from Phineas Gage, individuals are hardwired for certain personality traits in ways that make us all quite different. And scientific evidence exists to support the fact a person’s strengths are reflected in the ways that certain parts of their brains are more active and different than those of other individuals.

Computers were created, improved, and programmed by people--not the other way around.

Technology should be a testament to the creativity, resourcefulness, adaptability, and drive of the human mind. At Tortus, we believe that every business idea or concept is unique and therefore deserves a customized approach. Our mission is to help you by demystifying, uniting, and organizing the science and art of technology.

We’re here to help. Contact Tortus today for a business development plan that makes the most of mind and machine!

Now here is a bonus question for you: Cavendish, Vermont, population 1,500, is not only famous for Phineas Gage but also a Nobel Prize winner. Who is it? Find out here!

Return to Part Two