Computers and such

I was just thinking about computers and how computer designers are trying to "create" thought. There are even systems designed that can "think" called artificial intelligence. But even though these machines seem to think, the truth is still an old computer term called GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). If the inputs to these systems is corrupt, the output will be corrupt.

A computer has only two main things that make it up: storage and processing.

Storage can be defined as the hard-drive, the memory, the CD-Rom drive, the DVD drive, floppy drives. Basically, these are all things that "hold" or store data. Now, data can be just facts, or it can be instructions (programs) that tell the computer what to do. But just because storage has a program, doesn't mean the computer will execute it. If you leave the CD on the shelf and never put it in your computer, the computer will never process it. It is just storage.

Processing is when the computer executes the instructions (runs the program) that has it read the input and do whatever it is the program is supposed to do and produces some kind of output. It can be something as simple as adding numbers and producing a sum, or reading a certain kind of file and producing an image, or picture. It can be as varied as surfing the web or reading email or playing solitaire. All of these, at some level, take input, run a series of instructions, and produce output. This is the "brain" center of the computer.

I give you this very simplified, basic lesson on computers to demonstrate how man is trying to "create" thought. Our brains are a combination of storage and processing. You have memories and all of those memories put together make up your storage. Those memories may be pictures of events and things in your past, or they may be instructions. Your parents told you not to touch things hot, and now you don't touch hot things. It is an instruction.

It requires input. Your eyes see that the burner is on. Your skin feels the heat before it causes any damage.

It processes. Mom said not to touch hot things. This is hot.

It produces output. I will not be touching the burner.

Yet, the problem is that we are also bound by the law of GIGO (garbage in, garbage out). When we overwhelm our storage with things that are not of our Lord, we are filling up with garbage. When it comes time to make decisions, our minds only have garbage in and so we make disastrous choices (garbage out).

For instance, in the very near future we will going back to the polls to vote. There are many conflicting messages out there about the things and people we will be voting on. Let me give you a sure-fire way to vote. First, get educated on the issues and filter them through the Bible. Perhaps some questions to get you thinking. What are the most critical issues placed before our country today? Have you sought out God's word for an answer? Have you prayed to God about these same issues? Are you making your decisions based on TV ads or on prayerful, thoughtful searching of God's word and matching the issues to God's standard? Mudslinging is at an all time high. Instead of filling our storage with garbage, let's fill our minds with God's truth. Then, instead of GIGO, perhaps we will have TITO (truth in, truth out).