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The Technical Cornerstones of Photo-Interpretation (right) 
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When we now turn to the corners of the diamond, 
there is a good opportunity to discuss the 
INFORMATION 
WEMOR) interesting parallel between eye and camera and the 
similarity of computer and brain. Starting with the 
THINKING : : ; ; ; 
IAM second, the right-hand corner in fig. T is the 
comput S i : formati Pom: uen. masse 
COMPUTER puter section: Information, Memory, and Thinking, 
or input capacity, memory and data processing. 
Referring to ihe previous parazraphs, short statements should suffice 
here to indicate what aspects.are worthwhile to think over. Speaking 
34 
from the eye brains 
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the input capacity of the brain is limited; 
the memory capacity is practically unlimited; 
thinking is only to some extent logical; 
recall of stored data is rather deficient; 
the accuracy of judgement in visual tasıs is of the order of 1% 
(a reasonable figure for an analogue computer), but 
drops to 10% for complicated tasks, and also when the long term 
memory is involved (for instance, in comparing the length of two 
lines by seeing both - 1% —, or by seeing only one rod, and 
remembering the length of a similar rod, seen yesterday - 10% =) o 
[Tt is tempting to quote here Bronowski's (1965) page 33 and 34, 
where he touches on the comparison 'brain-computor" in his clear 
and eloquent manner. But no, "Bronowski" has to be digested as a 
whole; knowledge of the self is not gained by glancing through 
summaries. 
instead of a quick and a slow memory, mankind has an easy 
accessible and à practically inaccessible memory. 
Moreover, the memory contents are not fixed for ever - 
transfer from the open to the closed memory is called forgettinge 
learning is another feature which makes people flexible, almost as 
if a new programm can be inserted in the computer. 
emotion can open new pathways to the memory and stimulate thinking, 
but an over-dosage of emotion can block any functioning completely. ] 
These differences should be kept in mind when talking about 
Automatic Photo-Interpretation. If feasible at all, this "computer 
section" should be the first to be replaced by a technical computer, 
ure 
human mind by dead hard and soft ware. 
We barely dare to suggest more radical substitutions of the flexible