From: Technotranscendence (neptune@mars.superlink.net)
Date: Sat Dec 18 1999 - 19:31:08 MST
Here's my minor entry into the "qualia" thread.:)
On Saturday, December 18, 1999 2:54 PM Robert Owen rowen@technologist.com
wrote:
> Bryan Moss wrote:
> > If I hook you up to a machine that releases endorphins when
> > it detects red, is that a colour sensation?
>
> The machine, for example a spectrometer, can in principle
> be associated with a limit detector or other comparator such
> that when it is exposed to radiation having wavelengths no
> less than 6.47E-7 m and no greater than 7.00E-7 m it may
> stimulate the Anterior Pituitary to release endorphins.
>
> [1] The machine has not detected the COLOR red which
> by definition is a visual sensation resulting from the
> impact of light of a particular wavelength on the cones
> of the retina of the eye.
It's not precisely true that seeing red happens that way. In fact, red can
be seen when light of various other wavelengths falls on the retina. This
is a minor point, but just one which I think should be taken into account.
I fear oversimplifying color perception might lead to other problems.
Of course, unless a machine is designed to process data the same way, it's
"perceptual" model will be a lot different. AFAIK, except for artificial
retinae (plural?), I think most machine visual process does not work like
human visual processing. Am I wrong here? If so, please enlighten me.:)
Cheers!
Daniel Ust
See my Updates at:
http://mars.superlink.net/neptune/
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