Man's genius has devised an impressive variety of electronic brains that solve impressively complicated problems at lightning speeds. Some can be taught to play commendable chess, translate languages (though poorly) and compose music. For all their versatility, however, they remain incorrigible simpletons; before they can solve the simplest problem, their human masters must laboriously explain—in a setting-up process called programing—just what the computers are expected to do. This week Raytheon Co. of Lexington, Mass.. proudly claimed an electronic brain which, according to its developer, can at least profit by its own mistakes....
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