Steven Pinker -- How the Mind Works - Hampshire High Italian ...

Thinking Machines 107F |G>7Instead of a faithful-to-the-letter lookup demon, you have one that cangeneralize a bit. The network is called a pattern associator.Suppose the input units at the bottom represent the appearance ofanimals: "hairy," "quadrupedal," "feathered," "green," "long-necked," andso on. With enough units, every animal can be represented by turning onthe units for its unique set of properties. A parrot is represented by turningthe "feathered" unit on, the "hairy" unit off, and so on. Now supposethe output units at the top stand for zoological facts. One represents thefact that the animal is herbivorous, another that it is warm-blooded, andso on. With no units standing for a particular animal (that is, with nounit for "parrot"), the weights automatically represent statistical knowledgeabout classes of animals. They embody the knowledge that featheredthings tend to be warm-blooded, animals with hair tend to bear live