Elementary, My Dear Watson: Can a Machine Win at Jeopardy?

Answer: John Tukey coined this compound word in 1958 saying it was as important as "tubes, transistors, wires, tapes ..."

Correct question: What is computer science?

The TV game show Jeopardy! often poses fairly straightforward topics. Often, though, ascertaining the questions and answers requires some awareness of cultural trends, idioms. and double meanings.

We know computers can win at chess, but that can be aided by a massive database of strategies and counter-moves. Could a highly intelligent computer win at a game show such as Jeopardy?

We'll find out on February 14, 15 and 16, when IBM's Watson supercomputer plays two of the game show's all-time reining champs in two matches being played over three consecutive days.

This is more than a stunt—this exercise, under development for several years in the IBM labs, is intended to push the envelope of artificial intelligence to see if computers can attain the same reasoning power as human beings.

As recently described in The New York Times, IBM selected Jeopardy! because the format of the game involves clues involve analyzing subtle meaning, irony, riddles and other complexities in which humans excel and computers traditionally do not.

A computer with Watson's power now has the capability to sift through vast data stores and return precise answers, ranking its confidence in its answers. For starters, the technology could be applied in areas such as health care, to help accurately diagnose patients, to customer service and help desks,

Technology doubles in capabilities every 18 months, and it may take less than a decade for a computer with Watson's power to be widely available to everyone.

A video of a practice match conducted this week between Watson and the Jeopardy! super-champs, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, who collectively won almost $6 million on Jeopardy! episodes, was captured and posted by Engadget. Looking at and listening to Watson, I couldn't help being reminded of the computer Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey. Hmmm—can Watson sing "Daisy" for us, too?

Joe McKendrick is an author, consultant, blogger and frequent INN contributor specializing in information technology.

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