Cognitive computer

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cognitive-computer

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the underlying engineering approach?Neuromorphic engineering, designed to mimic biological brain structures
2. What is the foundational development?IBM's Watson (2013) and TrueNorth microchip architecture (2014) were key early milestones
3. What are cognitive computers and how do they think like a brain?Cognitive computers are machines built with artificial neurons and synapses that learn and process information like our brains, making them smarter and faster at tasks such as recognizing patterns.
4. Why are cognitive computers different from regular computers?Regular computers use a von Neumann design that moves data back and forth, while cognitive computers combine memory and processing in one place, just like a brain, so they can work faster and use less energy.

Von Neumann Architecture: The standard computer design featuring separate CPU and memory units, processing data sequentially.
Synapse: The junction between two nerve cells, across which nerve impulses pass.
Edge Computing: Processing data closer to where it is generated, rather than sending it to a centralized cloud.