A.I. Movie Project: Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie assignment. I think it was a fun project because we got to explore great movies about artificial intelligence and be creative in the process. The assignment was also a fantastic opportunity for deep thinking and analysis, not just about the movies, but also about the class, human and technological progress, and the world in general. Furthermore, my partner was a real pleasure to work with, and we had a blast with each other.

Admittedly, my partner and I had a lot of trouble narrowing down AI movies that were not already selected. This problem is the only aspect of the project that I didn’t like. I think the assignment needs to modified so that everyone has an easier time in making make movie decisions as soon as possible. Furthermore, the project should use a broader theme, because AI movies that are not in the mainstream can be quite hard to track down.

The only other downside, which was not directly related to the project itself, was the difficultly my partner and I had in meeting; we had very busy and conflicting schedules. However, in the end, we were able to work around any challenges and create an incredible Powerpoint show.

To conclude, I want to thank Professor Harris for an excellent class and the amazing opportunities presented by this project. It is a great send-off for the semester, especially considering Christmas is almost here!

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My Experiment: Motivated Object Encoding

I participated in an experiment called Motivated Object Encoding. This study had two parts. In the first phase, I was shown pictures of various objects inside a red, blue, or green frame on a computer program. Using parts of the keyboard, I had to rate the plausibility of the object being the color of the frame. I then had to follow a series of left or right arrow cues that immediately followed each object. I had to react quickly. Afterwards, I filled out questionnaires regarding my current emotional state.

In the second phase, carried out two days after the first, I was again shown pictures of objects. Also using keys, I had to state whether I had seen the object two days ago and what color it was, as well as how certain I was of my answers. After I finished the second part, I completed the study by filling out questionnaires regarding my current emotional state, my psychological health in general, and my personality, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire.

The Motivated Object Encoding experiment was a bit long and tedious, but I enjoyed it. I think the results of the study are deeply influenced by numerous factors, especially mental health, memory, and imagination. In light of what we have learned in class, I think that this study will help answer more questions about the nature of the brain and memory, as well as what factors can affect and potentially improve them. I hope to participate in and research other experiments like this one in the future.

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