Frank Rosenblatt

Frank Rosenblatt (July 11, 1928 – July 11, 1971) was an American psychologist notable in the field of artificial intelligence. He is sometimes called the father of deep learning for his pioneering work on artificial neural networks.

Frank Rosenblatt

Quotes

Principles of Neurodynamics: Perceptrons and the Theory of Brain Mechanisms (1962)

Rosenblatt, Frank. Principles of Neurodynamics: Perceptrons and the Theory of Brain Mechanisms. Vol. 55. Spartan books Washington, DC, 1962.

Preface

• It is only after much hesitation that the writer has reconciled himself to the addition of the term "neurodynamics" to the list of such recent linguistic artifacts as "cybernetics", "bionics", "autonomics", "biomimesis", "synnoetics", "intelectronics", and "robotics".
• ... the handling of the first public announcement of the program in 1958 by the popular press, which fell to the task with all the exuberance and sense of discretion of a pack of happy bloodhounds. Such headlines as "Frankenstein Monster Designed by Navy: Robot That Thinks" (Tulsa, Oklahoma Times) were hardly designed to inspire scientific confidence.
• The term "perceptron", originally intended as a generic name for a variety of theoretical nerve nets, has an unfortunate tendency to suggest a specific piece of hardware, and it is only with difficulty that its well-meaning popularizers can be persuaded to suppress their natural urge to capitalize the initial "p". On being asked, "How is 'Perceptron' performing today?" I am often tempted to respond, "Very well, thank you, and how are 'Neutron' and 'Electron' behaving?"
• For this writer, the perceptron program is not primarily concerned with the invention of devices for "artificial intelligence", but rather with investigating the physical structures and neurodynamic principles which underlie "natural intelligence". A perceptron is first and foremost a brain model, not an invention for pattern recognition. As a brain model, its utility is in enabling us to determine the physical conditions for the emergence of various psychological properties... we are fully aware of the simplifications which have been made from biological systems; but it is, at least, an analyzable model.