From Absolute Mind to Zombie: Is Artificial Intelligence Possible?

The dream of achieving artificial intelligence (AI) and, in particular, artificial consciousness (‘strong AI’), is reflected in mythologies and popular culture as utopia and dystopia. This article discusses its conceptual possibility. It first relates the desire to realise strong AI to a self-perception of humanity as opposed to nature, metaphorically represented as gods or God. The realisation of strong AI is perceived as an ultimate victory on nature or God because it represents the crown of creation or evolution: conscious intelligence. The paper proceeds to summarise two debates relevant to AI: one educational and one technological. The technological debate, almost invariably presupposing a materialist framework, is related to the mind–body problem of philosophy; the educational one to understanding the concept of intelligence. By proposing a definition of intelligence linked to an idealist conception of reality, postulating mind as participation in Absolute Mind, I attempt a convergence of these debates, rejecting the possibility of strong AI

Differences and similarities in self-revision across portuguese as a native language and english as a foreign language /

Dissertação (Mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão

Can Humanoid Service Robots Perform Better Than Service Employees? A Comparison of Innovative Behavior Cues

This research compares human-robot interaction with human-human interaction. More specifically, it compares potential customer responses to a humanoid service robot’s (HSR’s) behavioral cues during service encounters with those expressed by a human service employee. The behavioral cues tested in this study include innovative service behavior, defined as the extent to which a service representative creates new ideas and solutions for the customer. Based on role theory and the expectancy disconfirmation paradigm, we propose that customers generally respond positively toward an HSR’s artificial innovative service behavior cues. The experimental laboratory study with 132 student participants and an HSR of the Pepper type, shows positive responses to an HSR’s artificial innovative service behavior, but that those responses are weaker compared to human-human interactions within a similar setting. Furthermore, innovative service behavior cues exceed customer expectations and therefore, lead to customer satisfaction and delight with the HSR

A new method for an objective, χ2\chi^2-based spectroscopic analysis of early-type stars

A precise quantitative spectral analysis - encompassing atmospheric parameter and chemical elemental abundance determination - is time consuming due to its iterative nature and the multi-parameter space to be explored, especially when done "by eye". A robust automated fitting technique that is as trustworthy as traditional methods would allow for large samples of stars to be analyzed in a consistent manner in reasonable time. We present a semi-automated quantitative spectral analysis technique for early-type stars based on the concept of $\chi^2$ minimization. The method's main features are: far less subjective than typical "by eye" methods, correction for inaccurate continuum normalization, consideration of the whole useful spectral range, simultaneous sampling of the entire multi-parameter space (effective temperature, surface gravity, microturbulence, macroturbulence, projected rotational velocity, radial velocity, elemental abundances) to find the global best solution, applicable also to composite spectra. The method is fast, robust and reliable as seen from formal tests and from a comparison with previous analyses. Consistent quantitative spectral analyses of large samples of early-type stars can be performed quickly with very high accuracy.Comment: 32 pages, 4 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics, accepte

High energy astroparticle physics for high school students

The questions about the origin and type of cosmic particles are not only fascinating for scientists in astrophysics, but also for young enthusiastic high school students. To familiarize them with research in astroparticle physics, the Pierre Auger Collaboration agreed to make 1% of its data publicly available. The Pierre Auger Observatory investigates cosmic rays at the highest energies and consists of more than 1600 water Cherenkov detectors, located near Malarg\"{u}e, Argentina. With publicly available data from the experiment, students can perform their own hands-on analysis. In the framework of a so-called Astroparticle Masterclass organized alongside the context of the German outreach network Netzwerk Teilchenwelt, students get a valuable insight into cosmic ray physics and scientific research concepts. We present the project and experiences with students.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands, PoS(ICRC2015)30

UNCOVERING THE PRIVACY PARADOX: THE INFLUENCE OF DISTRACTION ON DATA DISCLOSURE DECISIONS

The discrepancy between individuals’ intention to disclose data and their actual disclosure behaviour is called the privacy paradox. Although a wide range of research has investigated the privacy para-dox, it remains insufficiently understood due to mental processes’ role in decision-making being most-ly neglected. This research-in-progress provides a theoretical concept that examines the cognitive processes underlying data disclosure decisions to provide a better understanding of the privacy para-dox. We apply the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), which suggests that the mental shortcuts that individuals take when making their actual data disclosure decision, which differs from their self-reported data disclosure intention, cause the privacy paradox. We propose a two-step, mixed method approach comprising a survey and an online experiment to empirically explore the intended and actu-al data disclosure. The study takes theoretical and methodological issues in prior literature into ac-count and enhances our understanding of individuals’ paradoxical data disclosure behaviour from a psychological point of view