How can computers enhance human intelligence?

Answer 1

Computers facilitate communications and information exchange. To the extent this does not involve garbage, it serves to enhance human intelligence.

This particular forum enhances intelligence to the extent the best answer does. Strangely, the best answer is quite often not selected as the best answer. That demonstrates the computer has limitations, it can be disregarded by the ignorant or unthinking.

When the computer plays a greater role in education, especially in the sciences, but including religion, humanities, history, and all other subjects offered by colleges, it will be possible for those who are not independently wealthy to get a degree.

There is great resistance to this, especially from those who fear an educated public, but also from those who currently monopolize the educational process.

In fact, the academic records and accreditations for both students and providers can be verified better than ever before. Students can save all their homework, even all work.

That will make transfers easier.

Biometric ID can be used for examinations, licensing &c.

The only reason it's not here already is that it will put the usual venues out of business, or change them more than they want at this time.

The first signs of this takeover will be organizations accrediting certain types of online work or certain training programs, and you will see those credits accepted. Some accreditations will gain wide respect....

Answer 2

Computers are a tool, and are only as intelligent as the humans that use them. If you use you computer to send IM messages to your friends about what you watched on TV last night, that doesn't really enhance your intelligence very much.

I have witnessed where design software has actually displaced some human intelligence. Instead of an engineer knowing how a system works and designing a well thought-out system based on his knowledge/experience/intelligence, he/she runs his design through a simulator in a trial and error process until he gets something that works and meets the specs. The latter is definitely a less intelligent way to design.

For the most part, computers can enhance human intelligence by making it easier for humans to find/organize/process the information they need. But it is really the humans who are running the show.

Answer 3

I don't believe that computers can enhance human intelligence, only human knowledge, as this website does.
Whenever a question is answered or whenever data is made more easily available, a persons knowledge is increased. However a persons intelligence is innate, and is not necessarily dependent on his knowledge.
Some people are very intelligent, but have little knowldge, and others have little intelligence, but much knowledge.