Brains and computers

Published: July 1, 2011, 7 a.m.

Computers and brains are both information processing systems, but they work on very different principles. Computers have progressed very rapidly since the Manchester 'Baby' ran the world’s first program in June 1948, but there are limits to how long this rapid progress can continue as we approach physical limits. Perhaps there are things we could learn from the brain that might enable us to improve the capabilities of computers, if only we knew how brains actually work?