Some questions can linger in the back of our minds for ages without a satisfactory answer. Passion? Who can give us intelligent guidance?
First level: machines
However powerful the algorithms and processors, the Watson, Siri, Wolfram, Google and other artificial intelligence anddeep learning systems, sometimes the answer to a question is not established and can only be the fruit of an exchange, a discussion.
Machines work on the basis of what they have. They may be able to recombine and even identify data needs, but they are still denied the ability to imagine.
When it comes to understanding the unspoken meaning of a question, it's best to move on to the second level.
The second level: forums
There are dozens of specialized sites where you can ask questions that will be answered by the community of users; in health, science, DIY, consumer affairs, etc. Some sites have even made this their main function, such as ask.com, ask.fm or question.com.
Better still, specialized forums like Stack Exchange, Ifixit, Futura Sciences and many others offer a higher level of personalization and dynamism.
Here, those who answer help to clarify poorly formulated questions, provide context and guide the search towards a plausible solution. Often much better than a machine. But sometimes no one deigns to answer a question that's too specialized.
The third level: meetings
The complicated question takes too long to answer, requires too much effort... who can help us? Co-learning can provide a solution where no one else can. Face-to-face meetings or learning circles can bring us together with other enthusiasts of the same subject. If we can't find an answer, the Internet can guide us to people who know or who are looking for one too.
BrainDate (e180) is an excellent example of connecting enthusiasts and the curious through what interests them, while another organization, Percolab, lets you create or join groups of enthusiasts. Co-learning organizations are multiplying. When it comes to vast questions, there's nothing better than research with others.
Beyond research, training
While all research begins with a question, sometimes the answer is more complex than it first appears, and the question evolves as we go along. We can become interested in dinosaurs and end up as bio-paleo experts in search of the first bacteria. Learning and understanding are part of our intelligent nature.
The ability to ask questions and seek answers is part of the learning process. When you see someone searching, they're on the road to knowledge. We can stand it.
Illustration: sakkmesterke - ShutterStock
References
Artificial intelligence
Watson - https://www.ibm.com/watson-analytics
Introduction to deep learning algorithms
http://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~bengioy/ift6266/H12/html/deepintro_fr.html
Siri - http://www.apple.com/ca/fr/ios/siri/
Wolfram Alpha - http://www.wolframalpha.com/
General forums
Ask.com - http://www.ask.com
Ask FM - http://ask.fm
Question.com - https://www.question.com/
Specialized forums
Stack Exchange - http://stackexchange.com/sites
Ifixit - https://fr.ifixit.com/Answers/Ask
Futura Sciences - http://forums.futura-sciences.com/
Quora - https://www.quora.com/
Co-learning
BrainDate (E-180) - https://www.e-180.com/
PercoLab - http://www.percolab.com/cercles/
Co-Learning France - http://www.co-learning.fr/
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