what's the point? (Score 3)

please do not mistake my intent- i would be quite
impressed with anyone who could pass the turing
test.

however, how much further does this really get us
than building a computer which can beat kasparov
in a (relatively) high speed chess match. chess
seemed like a big thing to teach a computer once,
but it has been relegated to the relatively
trivial now.

it seems to me that a program which passes the
turing test may well fall into the same category.
(i am assuming here that the program merely
appears to be having a conversation- that it is
not a language _understanding_ system.) it would
simply become something that people would set
loose in chatrooms, or attach to old unwanted
e-mail accounts, and watch the fun.

what i'd like to see is someone tackling a truely
significant problem. like programming a computer
to be able to vaccume your house.