What Computers Can't Do For You
Spring 2005 Operations Research / Management Science Seminar Series Presents:
Professor Catherine C. McGeoch
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
Amherst College, Amherst, MA
"What Computers Can't Do For You"
Abstract: We are living in a golden age of computing, enjoying unprecedented access to vast repositories of information (and entertainment), near-instant communication with friends and colleagues anywhere in the world, and powerful computational tools for solving all kinds of problems, including the types of logistical problems arising in Operations Research.
The future potential of computing technology seems unlimited -- but it is limited. This talk will explore some results from theoretical computer science that set out the boundaries of feasible computation. Besides those fundamental boundaries, I will also discuss some practical obstacles to solving every possible problem with computers.
This series is organized by the UMASS Amherst INFORMS Student Chapter. Support for this series is provided by the Isenberg School of Management, the Department of Finance and Operations Management, and the John F. Smith Memorial Fund.
