In the beginning, God made man with dominion over all things. This continued until recently, man himself become a creator also. Man made technology with the dominion to rule over other things. True enough, technology surpasses the means that man has undergone.
A lot of people are saying that the true weight of the Earth can be derived from the people that inhabit it and not the technology that constitutes it. Technology is undoubtedly a mere reflection of man’s intelligence. But in the years that proceeded, it seems that technology has one way or another defeated man. For a very concrete example, let us take the case of how we play chess with the computer; sounds very simple. It seems that we are just only referring to us using online chess games. However, in the past years, man has devised a new form of machine that would let man realize that he is only second best to technology.
How do you play chess with the computer? Do you think its mere playing online games and it stops there? No. Now we have what we call computer chess. This is another form of innovation in computer architecture wherein computer is autonomously playing chess without the guidance of human encompassing hardware and software.
In the past, it has been used to test the best chess masters which gave surprising results. Take the case of David Levy, International Master. In 1968, he made a bet that no computer chess would defeat him in the span of ten years. By 1978, his bet was fully realized when he defeated the strongest computer that time, Chess 4.7. However, after eleven years, Deep Thought, in an exhibition match, defeated Levy and proven that he has no match against computer chess.
In addition to this, Garry Kasparov, World Champion, followed the path of David Levy. The only difference is that Garry beat Deep Thought. However, in 1996, IBM’s Dee Blue defeated Kasparov in a match with the use of time control. In fact, it was the first time when a world champion was defeated by computer chess.
However, do not be misguided that this computer chess is something so intimidating to the people who love chess. In fact, it serves as a very useful tool to those people who loves chess but don’t have any human opponent available. In addition, it is also a tool for entertainment and a good way of testing one’s skills.
Not only entertainment would we derive from playing chess with computer but also it serves as a way for us to analyze chess, aid computer chess competition, and more especially as a research tool in providing us with insights about human cognition.
Thus, let us always consider the things regarding this matter. Let us always remember that we humans created technology and that they are only reflections of our intelligence. If one way we’ll find ourselves reckoned second best to technology, always keep in mind that we are their creator.