Man VS Machine?

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/i-b-m-supercomputer-watson-to-challenge-jeopardy-stars/


Hmmmm, I'm not so sure about this.  A lot of these type of contests seem to me to be comparing apples to oranges.  For one think, the nature of Jeopardy isn't just knowledge, but speed at accessing it.  Another is combing that with the speed and coordination to push your hand button before the other contestants can.  The process might not even be in that order - a contestant who felt themselves particularly gifted on a subject might well push the button before truly grasping the question - beating their opponents to the "punch" but gambling that they'll know the answer.  There are also the processes of voice recognition and being able to read the 'question' on the game board.  Without being any kind of computer engineer, I have to think that these processes are handled significantly different when comparing appliances to living beings.  I'd also be curious how one accounts for the distractions each would have, particularly the humans - lights, noises, the pressure of TV competition, having an upset stomach, etc.  Saying that a computer doesn't suffer from these things is a "so what" statement - neither does a hammer.  I'm just not sure what's being stated here, and what's being tested (what the competition is supposed to prove).  A hammer can push nails into a board better than almost any human, and a computer can swing around electronic impulses faster than a human could.  I don't need a game show to tell me that.