Mike,
A individual symbol can represent an image, in the sense of standing for it in a higher level representation, but I tend to think of the image itself being represented as some sort of data structure comprised of many symbols, such as a vector or a set of activations in a hierarchical memory representation. With regard to your statement that "Computers ... are basically symbol processors - they can only deal in Graphics/Icons-as-Symbolic-Formulae and Images-as-Symbolic-Formulae. They cannot deal in whole forms directly as humans do - cannot literally handle them and reshape them and put one on top of another to see if they fit" I agree that computer cannot yet deal with images in all the ways humans can, but contrary to your statement they can handle them, can reshape them, can put them on top of one another to see if they fit, and much more as well. It sounds like you haven't been keeping up with the state of the art in image processing. Ed Porter -----Original Message----- From: Mike Tintner [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 15, 2008 9:20 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [agi] A 1st Step To Using Your Image-ination Ed:I agree a definition of symbol might be helpful. In general there is agreement here, but some people do use the term confusingly in an all-purpose way. 1.Symbols : Abstract signs that have NO RESEMBLANCE to the signified. Word - "tree" - no resemblance to object. Numbers "1" "2" - no resemblance to the objects or number of objects described. Logic "If p then q" - Algebra- "x + y=z" No resemblance to anything being designated. Here's where it gets a little complex - there is no agreement about this next category but it's v. important 2. Graphics/ "Icons" [like computer icons rather than Peirce's]/ Image Schemas - signs that have a real if simple and sometimes distorted OUTLINE/PATTERN RESEMBLANCE to their signified objects - Computer Icons, Stick Drawings, Geometrical Graphs, Geometrical Figures, Cartoons, Maps, Traffic Signs 3.Images - much more DETAILED RESEMBLANCE - pseudo- or even actual-recordings - photographs, movies, realistic drawings, paintings, sculptures Computers are basically symbol processors - they can only deal in Graphics/Icons-as-Symbolic-Formulae and Images-as-Symbolic-Formulae. They cannot deal in whole forms directly as humans do - cannot literally handle them and reshape them and put one on top of another to see if they fit. Hence the celebrated imagery debate, with Pylyshyn, in order to safeguard current AI, trying to maintain that the human brain also, like current computers, reduces images to symbolic formulae in order to process them, whereas others like Kosslyn deny this. _____ agi | <http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now> Archives <http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/> | <http://www.listbox.com/member/?&;> Modify Your Subscription <http://www.listbox.com> ------------------------------------------- agi Archives: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/303/=now RSS Feed: http://www.listbox.com/member/archive/rss/303/ Modify Your Subscription: http://www.listbox.com/member/?member_id=8660244&id_secret=95818715-a78a9b Powered by Listbox: http://www.listbox.com
