if the supercomputer triumphs, it will probably be for another reason entirely: because it can activate the buzzer most quickly.
I can attest to that. When I was on Jeopardy, I knew most of the questions; it's just VERY DIFFICULT to time the buzzer right. This is also interesting (describing a "College Bowl" match):
Announcer: "In the South Pacific, there's Bora-Bora; in the state of Wash--"
BUZZ
Me: [pausing for a couple of very long seconds while I tried to figure out why I buzzed in] ... Walla Walla.
I did something very similar in a high school match:
Announcer: The Circus Maximus was in Rome---
BUZZ
Me: The gluteous maximus [pause, as the announcer's eyes get wide]...is...your...butt muscle.
College Bowl sounds so much more interesting than Jeopardy. I like not hearing the whole question, and puzzling it out as I hear the answer, and ponder how they made that leap with that information. That's much more interesting to me than that Jeopardy crap.
"ATTENTION: Customers browsing porn must hold magazines with both hands at all times!"
Right, so the only test for Watson is "can Watson figure it out before the question is over" because he can ring in instantly. You could see Jennings getting annoyed.