Computer Quote by Richard Hamming
“There are wavelengths that people cannot see, there are sounds that people cannot hear, and maybe computers have thoughts that people cannot think.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Hamming's 1980 Lecture on Computing and Perception, 1980
The quote suggests that human perception is limited, while machines may possess forms of cognition beyond our sensory reach.
In simple terms: Humans miss many signals; computers might think differently.
Key Takeaway
Consider the unseen and unheard in technology.
Themes
perception
technology
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
speculative
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- research
- AI development
- human-computer interaction
Key Concepts
cognitive limits
machine intelligence
Questions to Reflect On
- How might we recognize non‑human forms of thought?
- What ethical issues arise from attributing thought to machines?
A Different Perspective
Computers lack consciousness as we understand it.
![“It is by acts (actions) and not by ideas (mere thoughts) that people [really] live.” quote by Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ee5/harry-emerson-fosdick-3672_action_it-is-by-acts-actions-and-not-by-ideas-m_655228.jpg)
