The development of a conditional probability computer

• Main Author: Buhr, R. J. A.
• Other Authors: Porter, A.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: University of Saskatchewan 2010
• Online Access: http://library.usask.ca/theses/available/etd-08192010-084904/

<p>A conditional probability computer has been designed and constructed for the purpose of investigating its application to simple data processing and control situations. The design of the computer is based on the original work of A. M. Uttley at the National Physical laboratory, but the actual computer operates in a different manner from Uttleys computer in a number of fundamental ways.</p> <p>The computer is an adaptive device which makes short time estimates of the statistical structure of information presented to it in the form of patterns of binary digits. Whenever a pattern is presented to the inputs of the computer, a decision is made, on the basis of these estimates, as to whether or not the pattern is complete. If it is not complete, digits are inferred in the appropriate channels to make it complete. It is suggested that the computer may be applied as an adaptive code-correction device, a binary sequence predictor, or an optimizing controller. </p>