XPost: comp.ai.neural-nets, comp.graphics.algorithms   
   From: broeker@physik.rwth-aachen.de   
      
   In comp.graphics.algorithms Aleks Jakulin <"a_jakulin@"@hotmail.com> wrote:   
   > Can computers have a sense of aesthetics?   
      
   IMHO no.  The reason being that this question:   
      
   > In all, what is aesthetics?   
      
   cannot even be answered satisfactorily by human specialists in the   
   field.  Certainly not to a degree that could be formalized to the   
   extent needed to implemented in a computer.   
      
   > With the advent and resurrection of pen-based computing, wouldn't it   
   > be nice if the computer recognized the intents to draw straight lines   
   > in the approximate curvy attempts?   
      
   Careful there.  You're chasing after the old "DWIM" (do-what-I-mean)   
   user interface dream.  Trying to realize that one has driven many a   
   bold adventurer to starvation or madness.  The problem being the "I"   
   in there: different persons tend to mean rather different things, by   
   what will appear to the computer to be the same command.   
      
   The cases of the computer second-guessing user intent from apparent   
   regularities in pen input that you suggested are all based on the   
   assumption that the user *wants* a technical drawing (straight lines,   
   sharp edges, exact right angles or parallels, ...), but chose an   
   inappropriate input method (free-hand drawing) to create it.  What is   
   the basis of that assumption?  Why would anyone want to create a   
   technical drawing *without* the ubiquitous help of proper tools, like   
   the 'straight line', 'polygon' and others that even the most   
   simple-minded drawing applications on the planet invariably have?   
      
   --   
   Hans-Bernhard Broeker (broeker@physik.rwth-aachen.de)   
   Even if all the snow were burnt, ashes would remain.   
      
   [ comp.ai is moderated.  To submit, just post and be patient, or if ]   
   [ that fails mail your article to , and ]   
   [ ask your news administrator to fix the problems with your system. ]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)