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PR Nova: Smartest Machine on Earth: Can Computer Win On Jeopardy? on DVD

PBS Distribution

Viewers get unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to IBM researchers as they develop the technology for Watson. The film examines the technological feats and hurdles necessary to develop Watson, the challenges artificial intelligence researchers face in mimicking the human thought process, and potential applications for the future.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REMARKABLE COMPUTER THAT RECENTLY COMPETED ON JEOPARDY! IN THE NOVA PROGRAM Smartest Machine on Earth: Can Computer Win On Jeopardy?

Available on DVD from PBS Distribution May 10th



Arlington, Va. – April 25, 2011 – Augmenting human intelligence is a lot tougher than it looks; the promise of Hal from 2001: A Space Odyssey is still just a fantasy. But scientists are edging closer with machines such as Watson, an IBM computing system that recently took on human contestants on the game show "Jeopardy!" In PBS Distribution's newest DVD release, Nova: Smartest Machine on Earth: Can Computer Win On Jeopardy?, viewers get unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to IBM researchers as they develop the technology for Watson. The film examines the technological feats and hurdles necessary to develop Watson, the challenges artificial intelligence researchers face in mimicking the human thought process, and potential applications for the future.

This program will be available on DVD beginning May 10, 2011. The DVD has a running time of 60 minutes, and a suggested retail price of $24.99.

Program Synopsis
The IBM Watson team provides intimate access into the often challenging and humorous creation of this one-of-a-kind machine. Viewers will experience Watson's incredible ability to reason and tackle human language as no computer before.

Watson is not connected to the Internet, instead, it is stuffed with millions of documents – including anthologies, dictionaries, encyclopedias – from various sources, such as Wikipedia, The New York Times, and World Book Encyclopedia, from which it searches for answers. Its been trained on thousands of "Jeopardy!" clues, but during the game it "hears" the questions for the first time just like its human competitors.

Watson is fascinating to see in action. The system utilizes a sophisticated game strategy, calculating how much money to wager depending on its confidence and how much it stands to lose. The film also explores other groundbreaking artificial intelligence technologies and introduces viewers to machines that see, speak, and move through the world. Some of the world's top computer scientists discuss the overall meaning of Watson, and whether we are close to building a true artificial intelligence.



About NOVA
Now in its 38th season, NOVA is the most-watched primetime science series on American television, reaching more than four million viewers weekly. NOVA also is distributed in over one hundred and sixty countries world wide in twenty-seven languages. NOVA has received twenty-eight Emmy awards and other prestigious awards for science television including numerous Peabody, DuPont-Columbia, and CINE Golden Eagle awards.

About PBS Distribution
PBS Distribution is the leading media distributor for the public television community, both domestically and internationally. Jointly owned by PBS (Arlington, VA) and WGBH (Boston, MA), PBS Distribution extends the reach of public television programs beyond broadcast while generating revenue for the public television system and our production partners. PBS Distribution offers a diverse range of programming to our customers, including Ken Burns's films (The National Parks, The War, Baseball, Jazz, The Civil War), documentaries from award-winning series NOVA (The Elegant Universe, Origins, The Miracle of Life), FRONTLINE (Bush's War, Growing Up Online), and American Experience (We Shall Remain, Jonestown, New York), dramas from Masterpiece (Jane Eyre, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries), films from independent producers (Latin Music USA, The Botany of Desire, The Story of India, Journey into Buddhism, I.O.U.S.A.), and popular children's programming from Dinosaur Train, Super Why!, WordGirl, Cyberchase, Martha Speaks, Caillou and Arthur.


Nova: Smartest Machine on Earth: Can Computer Win On Jeopardy?
Street Date: May 10, 2011
Genre: Documentary
Run Time: 60 Minutes
SRP: $24.99
Format: DVD

PBS Distribution

Posted by: News Editor - May 11, 2011, 2:57 pm - PR
Keywords: documentary