For a layman: what the hell is the Turing Test?

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I hear people mention it about the forums every once in a while, usually in conjuction with a statement or line of argument that just doesn't make sense. I've read the Wikipedia article related to it, and, well, I just don't get it.

So, for those of you who DO understand it, can you rephrase or explain it to a layman like me? Thanks.

Oh, and if you could then explain what the Reverse Turing Test is, too, I'd be slightly smarter than I was before.

 

[nc-1701]

Basically the Turing Test is having a person talk to the thing your testing AI, Alien, etc. and if the person cannot tell the differance between talking to it, and talking to a real person then 'it' passes the Turing Test. If the person can tell the differance then 'it'doesn't pass the Turing Test. Basuicaly the idea is ifd something can pass the Turing test then it must be inteligent.

 

[Dida]

Turing Test is the name given to a BS theory proposed by Alan Turing, who also happened to be the inventor of a machine (named, interestingly enough, the Turing Machine, which ironically, cannot be build, or maybe it is so stupid that no one would bother to actually build it).
Anyhow, Turing Test states that, a machine would pass the test if, engaging in a conversation with a human, a judge observing the conversation cannot tell which party is the machine and which is the human.
Theoretical computer science is total BS, and the most boring subject ever.

 

[nihilistic]

A test for human-like intelligence. Basically, to test something, you ask it questions. If you cannot tell if the answering party apart from a human, the answering party has "passed" the Turing Test, whether it is a man or a machine. The principle is that if a machine can simulate intelligence, then it is intelligent.

The Reverse Turing Test is usually a self-deprecating joke among mathematicians, computer scientists, programmers, and people of other highly technical professions on how they could possibly pass a test designed to evaluate if the subject is an (artificial) computer.

 

[nihilistic]

Turing Test is the name given to a BS theory proposed by Alan Turing, who also happened to be the inventor of a machine (named, interestingly enough, the Turing Machine, which ironically, cannot be build, or maybe it is so stupid that no one would bother to actually build it).

Turing's thesis just happens to form a substantial part of the foundation of modern computer science. The computer that you are using to type that ignorant reply is really an instance of a "Turing Machine".

Theoretical computer science is total BS, and the most boring subject ever.

It's just very amusing reading this comment on a computer screen. I'm not going to contest the "boring" claim, as that is a personal choice. But you do realize that according to your comment, at the time you typed it your hands were literally interfacing with 40 year old bovine feces?

Also, how the hell do you think Google was able to break into the internet search arena so late in the game and "win"? They had legions of mathematicians and computer scientists.

 

[Dida]

Turing's thesis just happens to form a substantial part of the foundation of modern computer science. The computer that you are using to type that ignorant reply is really an instance of a "Turing Machine".

It's just very amusing reading this comment on a computer screen. I'm not going to contest the "boring" claim, as that is a personal choice. But you do realize that according to your comment, at the time you typed it your hands were literally interfacing with 40 year old bovine feces?

Also, how the hell do you think Google was able to break into the internet search arena so late in the game and "win"? They had legions of mathematicians and computer scientists.

Ah, no one has lectured to me the mystery of Turing Machine since my days in the graduate program. I did only obtained my master's degree before switching to a more gainful field of study, and practiced some IP law thereafter, so perhaps I am not as knowledgeable as a person with PhD from CalTech such as yourself. Your lecture was enlightening, and I am indeed infinitely grateful that you are so generous as to confer upon me such sublime wisdom.

 

[nihilistic]

Ah, no one has lectured to me the mystery of Turing Machine since my days in the graduate program. I did only obtained my master's degree before switching to a more gainful field of study, and practiced some IP law thereafter, so perhaps I am not as knowledgeable as a person with PhD from CalTech such as yourself. Your lecture was enlightening, and I am indeed infinitely grateful that you are so generous as to confer upon me such sublime wisdom.

So you are presumably another washed out (didn't want to use the 'L' word) geek itching to demonstrate your bitterness with the hi-tech industry (presumably the internet bubble circa 2000) using your proficiency at sarcasm? Big deal.

I would protest your characterization of me (I've never been to CalTech and I don't hold a PhD) except that it hardly counts as defamation.

 

[Urederra]

Just watch Blade Runner.