Some computers manage to fool people at game of imitating human beings

Article Abstract:

A competition involving the 'Turing test' was held at Boston's Computer Museum on Nov 8, 1991. The test was first proposed in 1950 by Alan Turing, a British mathematician and computer scientist, who suggested that if a person could not tell whether another person or a machine was communicating from a remote terminal, a computer communicating from the remote site could be said to be 'thinking.' The Turing test is, therefore, a test of artificial intelligence (AI). Hugh Loebner, a New York businessman, has offered a $100,000 prize for the first computer system that can pass a Turing test. The event in Boston involved a three-hour trial in which ten judges communicated with hidden terminals. There were people at some of the terminals and computers at others. One computer program, PC Therapist III from Thinking Software Inc, fooled five out of ten judges and won a $1,500 prize.

Product information, Donations, Achievements and awards, Machine theory, Competitions, Artificial intelligence, Philosophy, Cognitive science, Contests, Turing, Alan Mathison, Philosophy of mind, Computer Museum, Loebner, Hugh, Thinking Software Inc., PC Therapist 3.0 (Computer game)

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Lotus had $5.8 million quarterly profit compared with deficit a year earlier

Article Abstract:

Lotus Development Corp's financial report indicates the company had a $5.8 million 4th qtr 1991 profit with a 32 percent increase in sales. Fourth quarter profits would have been $24.4 million or 56 cents a share if the special charges taken by the company are excluded. Lotus' earnings for 1991 rose 86 percent to $43.1 million, or 98 cents a share, from $23.3 million, or 54 cents per share, in 1990. Most products sold well in the 4th qtr; December was a particularly good month for end-user demand. Lotus' new 1-2-3 for Windows has not fared very well in computer magazine reviews, Lotus 1-2-3 for DOS had an estimated 85 percent market share in terms of revenue and 1-2-3 for the Apple Macintosh is still receiving good reviews and customer reactions.

Finance, Profits, Market share, Sales, Spreadsheets, Spreadsheet software, Financial Analysis Software, Software Packages, Profit, Financial Report, Lotus 1-2-3 (Spreadsheet software), Fourth Quarter, Lotus 1-2-3 for Windows (Spreadsheet software), cc:Mail

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Lotus extends company benefits to cover domestic partners of homosexual staff

Article Abstract:

Lotus Development Corp becomes the first large US company to extend health and other employee benefits to its homosexual employees' domestic partners. The computer software maker, which employs 4,000, will stipulate that a homosexual employee's domestic partner must be a sole spousal equivalent and must remain so indefinitely. Employees must sign a statement indicating that they are in marriage-like relationships to qualify. Lotus' staff is made up of about 10 percent homosexuals and near half of those are expected to qualify. Industry observers note that Lotus' pioneering efforts is representative of a trend that is happening in the private sector.

Social aspects, Gays, Human resource management, Employment, Health insurance, Employee benefits, Personnel Management, Issues/Society

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