a
machine that determines whether or not an event fits a certain pattern; a machine that makes decisions by adding up evidence obtained from many small experiments. (Minsky and Papert, p. 4)
A mechanical device developed in the l950's by Rosenblatt for deciding (
see decision ) among, and to a limited degree for the
recognition and
learning of patterns which are defined by
relations among a multitude of stimuli in its
input. (
Krippendorff )
