American Brain Expert’s Ingenious Toy Tortoise Has Human Fallibilities

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26707, 28 February 1948, Page 7

American Brain Expert’s Ingenious Toy Tortoise Has Human Fallibilities

New Zealand Press Association Special Correspondent Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Feb. 27. A toy tortoise with miniature radio valves, miniature microphones to pick up sound, photo-electric cells to recognise colour, instruments to register temperatures, and a small motor, has been made by Dr Grey Walter, an American brain expert. He challenges anyone, says the Daily Express, to tell whether or not it is alive without prolonged observation. Dr Walter, who .has been engaged on brain research at the Burden Neurological‘institute, Bristol, for nine years, claims that the tortoise:—Dislikes cold, damp weather, great heat and bright lights, moans in 40 degree temperatures and runs towards any sources of normal warmth, likes company but can be easily frightened, will come to heel or beg at its master’s voice but will scuttle away at sudden movement, likes women but dislikes men, purrs at visitors who wear silk stockings but disappears at the sight of a suit, and will become neurotic and sulky if teased or given too many contradictory instructions. Dr Walter says the tortoise could be mass produced “ as cheaply as a toy.” He says that eventually you could make a robot which could find its way about, speak like a child, answer questions and do almost any sum.