A dizzying display of intellect and wild imaginings by Moravec, a world-class roboticist who has himself developed clever beasts . . . Undeniably, Moravec comes across as a highly knowledgeable and creative talent-which is just what the field needs" - Kirkus Reviews.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
One would be making a mistake to let Mind Children recede unopened into a guiltless oblivion. It's a tonic book, thought-provoking on every page. And it reminds us that, in our accelerating, headlong era, the future presses so close upon us that those who ignore it inhabit not the present but the past.
--Brad Leithauser (New Yorker )
A comprehensive and highly readable survey of the state of the art in robotics.
--M. Mitchell Waldrop (New York Times Book Review )
Moravec, by his own admission, is an intellectual joyrider, and riding his runaway trains of thought is an exhilarating experience...This is an intellectual party that shouldn't be pooped, no matter how much it may disturb the neighbours and encourage over-indulgence.
--Brian Woolley (Guardian )
[Mind Children] has the accuracy of a college text and the can't-put-it-down appeal of a good novel. Moravec has turned the flights of mind of one of the world's foremost roboticists into hard copy. And he has written a tremendously good book in the process.
--Eric Bobinsky (Byte )
A dizzying display of intellect and wild imaginings by Moravec, a world-class roboticist who has himself developed clever beasts...Undeniably, Moravec comes across as a highly knowledgeable and creative talent--which is just what the field needs. (Kirkus Reviews )
--Brad Leithauser (New Yorker )
A comprehensive and highly readable survey of the state of the art in robotics.
--M. Mitchell Waldrop (New York Times Book Review )
Moravec, by his own admission, is an intellectual joyrider, and riding his runaway trains of thought is an exhilarating experience...This is an intellectual party that shouldn't be pooped, no matter how much it may disturb the neighbours and encourage over-indulgence.
--Brian Woolley (Guardian )
[Mind Children] has the accuracy of a college text and the can't-put-it-down appeal of a good novel. Moravec has turned the flights of mind of one of the world's foremost roboticists into hard copy. And he has written a tremendously good book in the process.
--Eric Bobinsky (Byte )
A dizzying display of intellect and wild imaginings by Moravec, a world-class roboticist who has himself developed clever beasts...Undeniably, Moravec comes across as a highly knowledgeable and creative talent--which is just what the field needs. (Kirkus Reviews )
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29 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Bobb Collins
Format:Paperback
I picked up this book, expecting to learn a little bit about where we're headed with our computers, and the consequences therein. I learned all that--but I got even more than I bargained for. I have to say, the prologue in and of itself blew me away. I had never quite thought of humans as the first step in a bigger evolution. I read this book six months ago, and I haven't been able to get the implications of it out of my head since. If you're looking for the big answers--like "Why are we here?" and "What's the point?"--you may be like me and find more in here than in more traditional spiritual texts.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In this nearly twenty year old book, the author contends that advancing technology and the force of economic competition will lead inevitably (and in a span of mere decades) to a world in which machine intelligence vastly exceeds human intelligence. In chapters 3 through 6 the author gives a fascinating look at some of the possible features of that transhuman, post-biological world. Those chapters are as interesting and thought-provoking as any that have appeared in more contemporary treatments. Where the book does show it age, however, is in the first three chapters. There the author reviews the history of computer technology, and then succumbs to the shop-worn refrain of many classical AI researchers - "If only we had a computer that is 100 (or 1000 or 10000) times as powerful as today's machine, then we could program a human-equivalent intelligence". He even predicts on page 23 that "a general-purpose robot usable in the home" will be available within ten years. Well, today we have the computer power he was hoping for and still no general-purpose robot. Bottom line: if you want a fascinating look at what a world with superintelligent machines might be like, then buy this book and start reading at chapter 4. If you are interested in how we might actually achieve such a world then consider buying a copy of "On Intelligence" by Jeff Hawkins.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
This book is very pleasant and easy to read. Yes, the subject is in itself fascinating, but Moravec does manage to make that clear. Whether one is interested in artificial intelligence, bioengineering, or just looking for some thoughts on fun-filled research, this book is a sound place to start. In fact, this book is a great bait for caching curious high school and undergraduate students! I know. I've attracted at least a couple to my research just by letting them borrow my own copy!
(Francisco Sepulveda, Ph.D.
Biomedical Engineering Dept.
FEEC-UNICAMP, Brazil)
(Francisco Sepulveda, Ph.D.
Biomedical Engineering Dept.
FEEC-UNICAMP, Brazil)
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Boring book.
This book has too many technical trivia for my taste.
However, it may be interesting for others who are more interested in the technical details.
However, it may be interesting for others who are more interested in the technical details.
Published 3 months ago by Andrew Weissman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intelligent robots inherit the earth (and the stars)
Hans Moravec is director of the Mobile Robot Laboratory of Carnegie Mellon University and has spent his time from his days as a graduate student investigating artificial... Read more
Published on January 10, 2010 by Baraniecki Mark Stuart
5.0 out of 5 stars
robot intelligence
A good, yet dated, forecast of where we are going in developing machine intelligence
by one of the foremost researchers. Read more
by one of the foremost researchers. Read more
Published on December 3, 2009 by Patrick Stakem
5.0 out of 5 stars
Visionary
This book does a great job of exploring the future of robots, artificial intelligence, the human mind, and human identity. Read more
Published on March 21, 2005 by Peter McCluskey
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good but a little too far out
Moravec writes a good book but I think his ideas are a tad to far out there. He doesn't take into account the possiblility of people not wanting to have their minds transfered to... Read more
Published on March 31, 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
A definitive Work for the strong AI perspective
This is a hard Hitting Strong AI book. It's the the land mark book the drew the line in the sand. If you wont to know what the strong AI position is this is the only book you... Read more
Published on May 8, 1998
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