invisible idiot: December 2011

There is a story, probably fictional, about the lack of accuracy in text translation programs. A deputation that included an American Senator was proudly led to a demonstration of a translation program. The Senator suggested a phrase to be translated, "Out of sight, out of mind". The machine printed and these were then entered into the machine to be translated back to English. The visitors were all astonished when the machine printed the phrase "invisible idiot" on the paper. The computer had literally translated the separate expressions "out of sight" and "out of mind". The anecdote and the phrase "invisible idiot" have entered popular culture.

-Carl Sagan, The Dragons of Eden

invisible idiot

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Sunday, December 11, 2011