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Humanistic intelligence

Humanistic intelligence is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Humanistic intelligence rather than just read about it. In short: Humanistic Intelligence (HI) is defined, in the context of wearable computing, by Marvin Minsky, Ray Kurzweil, and Steve Mann, as follows: Humanistic Intelligence [HI] is intelligence that arises because of a human being in the feedback loop of a computational process, where the human and computer are inextricably intertwined. When a wearable computer embodies HI and becomes so technologically advanced that its inte…

Humanistic intelligence — main illustration
Humanistic intelligence — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Humanistic intelligence belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Humanistic intelligence to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Humanistic intelligence from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Humanistic Intelligence (HI) is defined, in the context of wearable computing, by Marvin Minsky, Ray Kurzweil, and Steve Mann, as follows:

Humanistic Intelligence [HI] is intelligence that arises because of a human being in the feedback loop of a computational process, where the human and computer are inextricably intertwined. When a wearable computer embodies HI and becomes so technologically advanced that its intelligence matches our own biological brain, something much more powerful emerges from this synergy that gives rise to superhuman intelligence within the single “cyborg” being.

More generally (beyond only wearable computing), HI describes the creation of intelligence that results from a feedback loop between a computational process and a human being, where the human and computer are inextricably intertwined.

In the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) it has been common to think of the human and computer as separate entities. HCI emphasizes this separateness by treating the human and computer as different entities that interact. However, HI theory thinks of the wearer and the computer with its associated input and output facilities not as separate entities, but regards the computer as a second brain and its sensory modalities as additional senses, in which synthetic synesthesia merges with the wearer's senses. When a wearable computer functions in a successful embodiment of HI, the computer uses the human's mind and body as one of its peripherals, just as the human uses the computer as a peripheral. This reciprocal relationship is at the heart of HI.

Courses The principles are taught in a variety of university courses, such as:

CSE40814, Mobile Computing, Fall 2014, University of Notre Dame ECE516, Intelligent Image Processing, 1998-2022, University of Toronto ECE1724, "Superhumachines" (Super-human-machine intelligence), University of Toronto Course: Wearable Computing, VAK: 03-799.01, Time: Mo, 13-15, Place: 1.51 TAB (ECO5), Instructor: Dr. Holger Kenn, Microsoft EMIC, Monday: Tel: 3035, TAB, 1.92, Universität Bremen

See also Cybernetics

References

External links Hawkeye Project J. Fung.; et al. (2002), "Exploring Humanistic Intelligence Through Physiologically Mediated Reality" (PDF), Proceedings of the International Symposium on Mixed and Augmented Reality (ISMAR'02) 0-7695-1781-1/02, IEEE, archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-09-22, retrieved 2014-10-12

Illustrations

Humanistic intelligence: Signal flow path theory of HI
Signal flow path theory of HI

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Humanistic intelligence

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Humanistic intelligence claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Humanistic intelligence before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Humanistic intelligence ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Humanistic intelligence

In research
Humanistic intelligence appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Humanistic intelligence in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Humanistic intelligence is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Human–computer interaction, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Humanistic intelligence outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Humanistic intelligence in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Humanistic intelligence means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Humanistic intelligence out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Humanistic intelligence in simple terms?

Humanistic Intelligence (HI) is defined, in the context of wearable computing, by Marvin Minsky, Ray Kurzweil, and Steve Mann, as follows: Humanistic Intelligence [HI] is intelligence that arises because of a human being in the feedback loop of a computational process, where the human and computer…

Why does Humanistic intelligence matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Humanistic intelligence?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Humanistic intelligence.

Tags

  • Human–computer interaction

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