Computer Vs Human Brain

Many of us think that computers are many many times faster, more powerful & more capable when compared to our brains simply because they can perform calculations 1000's of time faster, workout logical computations without error & store memory at incredible speeds with flawless accuracy. But is the the computer really superior to the human brain in terms of ability, processing power and adaptability? Let's begin the real comparison.

You might have studied about Retina. The retina is a nerve tissue in the back of the eyeball which detects lights & sends images to the brain. Overall, the retina process about ten one-million- point images per second. The 1,500 cubic cm human brain is about 100,000 times as large as the retina, By simple calculation it can be estimated that the processing power of a average brain is about 100 million MIPS (Million computer Instructions Per Second). The most powerful experimental super computers in 1998, composed of thousands or tens of thousands of the fastest microprocessors & costing tens of millions of dollars, can do a few million MIPS. By estimation, the brain has about 100 million MIPS worth of processing power while recent super-computers only has a few million MIPS worth in processor speed.

The brain is made for general purposes, not specifically just for computational jobs. The average human is constantly distracted by his overwhelming senses, his emotions and his own thoughts. There are exceptional people who could read through a 500 page book in less than an hour & remember all the contents as well as people who could perform mathematical calculations at a snap of their fingers but they are only rare examples that prove the hidden potential of human brain. Computers are far superior in terms of intelligence as defined by Turing’s test. They lack however the logical intelligence that a human brain possesses. They have no idea of right or wrong, something that makes them unfit to make decisions involving life or death. Sure a computer makes faster calculations, but it doesn’t store more memory & it can’t smell, feel, touch and have emotions. It can’t see objectively or subjectively.

Is it true that the objects can surpass its creator? How can this be true?