BAARS Global Workspace Executive Summary Outline
<p>Feb 3, 2010 1:37 PM
 
I.  Why Consc?  What function does it serve?
nobody has written on this more lucidly than Bernard Baars. (picture with name).
Global Workspace Theory.  (cud comment abt  Newell and Simon) it has increasinly
garnered experimental support also.
 
II. First consider organisms  for that matter would be like without
some means of coordination.  They would be a collection of independent
narrow specialists each capable of working in one environment and performing one function.
 
diagram:  a series of separate processes:  empty boxes
next diagram:  labeled:  vision; hearing; touch;  position; pain; pleasure; motor control
 
In the world of AI and robotics, we can imagine that each of these is a separate
processor or narrow AI that performs only one function.
 
III.  Baars GW Theory posits that the purpose of consc is to provide a mechanism
to unite all these separate brain resources into a coherent framework .
 
Show long horizontal box overlying the many individual boxes labeld CONSC.
and Global Workspace.
 
Most of the processes of the brain particularly in adults are unconscious.
They are processes that we laboriously learned as children initially using
consciousness and have long since thru repetition become automatic and zombie-like.
We are a bundle of unconscious habits that can be performed in our sleep.
 
However, look where and when consciousness becomes essential:
when we are in a NOVEL situation: when a compiled response isn't good enough;  NOVEL situation
in a challenging situation when all our brain resources are needed. Challenging Situation
(Note:  that if it's too challenging then we resort to a default response like fight or flight)
 
and related to novelty is LEARNING a new skill or
paying attention.  show diagram for each.
 
Widespread Memory Evocation
 
Consciousness is our BEST FIT or best model of our current situation.
 
E Pluribus Unim
 
Ronald Reagan:  One page executive summary 
(whether foreign policy or tax policy).
 
Here are some of Baars slides:
 
show Theater of Consc slide (with purple seats)
So consciousness is the on-going play that's being presented up on the stage.
Meanwhile, there is a huge audience of unconscious processes that are watching the
play.   This is, however, quite an involved audience that is actively changing the
lighting, changing the characters and the script.
 
Either show Baars slide with Consc spotlight or show my vertical and horiz boxes with
2 way arrows to consc.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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