X-Message-Number: 14866
Date: Mon, 06 Nov 2000 21:04:58 -0800
From: Lee Corbin <>
Subject: Definitions of Simulate and Emulate

Webster's New Twentieth Century Unabridged gives

simulate:  1. to give a false indication or appearance of;
              to pretend; to feign; as *simulate* an interest
           2. to have the external characteristics of; to
              look or act like; as, the insect simulated a twig

emulate  1. to strive to equal or excel
         2. to rival successfully

I also have an Oxford American dictionary that gives equivalent
meanings. I do not know what an official Oxford English dictionary
would suggest, but I would bet that it would be the same.

John de Rivaz wrote

> Re-creation of people by computer emulation [(sic)] has
> already been done, right now, and demonstrated on BBC
> television.  However it is better called simulation -
> I can see no possible argument that suggests the
> "people" on computer can think and feel for themselves.

I totally agree.

Lee Corbin

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