When: Thursday, July 29, 8:00 p.m.

Where: McConomy Auditorium University Center

Tom Sgouros

In conjunction with the 2004 International Conference on Cognitive Modeling: A Play written and performed by Tom Sgouros

Abstract:
There will be a welcoming feature event this year on Thursday 29 July, preceding the "International Conference on Cognitive Modeling" (simon.lrdc.pitt.edu/~iccm ) being held from 30 July-1 August at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.

This event is suitable for all ages interested in what does it mean to be robot, and what does it mean to think.

A lot of claims have been made lately about the intelligence of computers. Oddly, in the search for the truth, everyone has overlooked an obvious strategy: interviewing a robot and asking its opinion. Intrepid researcher Sgouros has leapt into this much needed gap in the literature, and presents some preliminary findings in a new not-quite-solo show. (You could call it "My Dinner with Android."). This play explores in a playful way some of the implications for cognitive modeling and artificial intelligence if computers do learn how to think.

Judy is a story of a man and his, um, companion, discussing such topics as imagination, consciousness, stage magic, the uses of eyes, and what it's really like to wake up in the morning and confront your aluminum-and-steel face in the mirror each day.

Judy was built in Tom's basement, over the course of several months, from pieces of old computers, a couple of bicycles, a copy machine, a marine stove, and yes, someone's kitchen sink. After literally weeks of intensive tutoring in phonics, elocution, and the elements of logic, Judy made her public debut in January, 2000, at Providence's Perishable Theatre in Rhode Island.

Tom and Judy have performed their show for dozens of psychology, philosophy, and computer science departments at universities all over the US and Canada, including Stanford, Tufts, Cal Tech, Penn State, and Montclair High School. This is a return visit for the pair to Carnegie Mellon where they performed in 2002.

The presentation takes approximately 65 minutes. There will be an opportunity to grill Tom and/or Judy, if she's feeling generous at that point, after the show where they will be joined in a question period by local and visiting researchers.

Marsha Lovett, Conference Co-Chair
412.268.3499, lovett@cmu.edu

Admission is free and open to the public.

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