There has long been a hope – an expectation, even – that the Web will somehow develop into something “smart”; that it will move from being a mere store-house of information to something that will actually “know the answers”.

But the vision tends to overlook the nature of both computers and humans. On the one hand, humans have a limited memory, and a flawed ability to apply consistent logic; on the other hand, we have abilities at creatively interpreting knowledge and ideas that are far beyond the capacity of any computer so far designed.

Continue reading