Computer scientists from Carnegie Mellon University are developing and using online games to train computers visual system according to this article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

An example game is Peekaboom, which is used online by teams of two players. The first one, designated as “Peek,” sees on his screen an image — initially empty — and a word that describes the image or one element of the image. The second one, named “Boom,” gradually reveals the image or gives hints to “Peek” until he correctly guesses the word associated to the image. A computer program can use this information to learn how to better categorize and identify objects visually. Essentially, humans are helping to train computer vision systems.

This reminds me of the method people use to break CAPTCHAs. A Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart is often used to protect web forms from automated use. To break a CAPTCHA, one simply needs to redirect the CAPTCHA image that the script comes across - to a human of course. The most common way to do this, is to ask a human to evaluate a CAPTCHA image before giving them access to free pornography. Clever, but extremely simply, and I would guess it is quite effective.

Why I blog this? I believe we will see many more ‘teaching systems’ where computer software ‘learns’ by working with humans. Why? Because humans already know how to learn. We can categorize incoming sensory information and manipulate it abstractly with symbols. And, we know instinctively how to teach learning when we raise children. I quite expect to one day raise a personal A.I. using human training and attention.

via FutureWire via Unmediated via SmartMobs

Thought I had vanished… missing… kidnapped… killed? Or gasp, even stopped blogging? Of course not!

After a much needed vacation out west, I am back in Waterloo. It is time for my last year of computer science at U.Waterloo.

So, where have I been?

Five great friends and myself have been road tripping across Canada. We drove non-stop from Toronto, Ontario to Banff, Alberta. It only took about 3 days to get there (switching drivers and sleeping in the minivan almost 24 hours a day). We stayed in Banff for two nights, in a beautiful provincial park. This particular park had with many strange bird sounds. One particular early morning bird had over three octaves of rich sound in its songs, it was unlike any other bird I have ever heard.

We drove, explored, and camped out all over the southern parts of British Columbia for a few weeks. The peak of the trip was definitely Vancouver Island. Camping deep inside a second growth (50-60 years maybe?) forest, we found a huge, beautiful, untouched waterfall to play in and camp near to. The old growth forest we visited earlier in the trip was quite a treat as well.

I even brought the laptop on the trip to play with as well. The minivan was treated to more than a few live sets and recording sessions while we drove across Canada. Quite a lot of fun if I say so myself.

Much of the trip cannot be put into words. All I can say is I cherish the time I have spent with many good friends in many far away places.

‘It really is amazing’

Unfortunately, the trip had to come to an end - at least for some of us. We left two of our groups initial six in the forest - one made his way back a bit later, and the other is still there!

So, I am back into work-mode. But, I am excited for a number of reasons. It is my last year of computer science at U.Waterloo. And, for the first time in years, I will be living in one city for more than 4 months!

I also have some great 4th year CS courses this term. I am taking Distributed Systems [CS 454], Databases [CS 448], and Graphics [CS 488] (woot! woot!). It should be a pretty challenging term… hopefully. From the sounds of it, I can put as much time and brain power into Graphics as I choose to - lots of room for growth in the course. So, as I said, I am excited. If I do anything cool I will be sure to post about it.

Look forward to more blogging from me in the coming days and months :)