A breakthrough in neural network technology is claimed by Bell Communications Research Inc with a six-node, 15-synapse network that is capable of learning the Exclusive OR computing function. XOR is required to give an output if one or other of the two inputs are on, but not if they are both on, and is generally regarded as a much more demanding test than AND – an output when both are on, and OR, an output when either or both is on. The Li vingston, New Jersey research unit owned by the seven regionals spun off from AT&T Co, claims its experim ental chip learns the XOR function 100,000 times fas ter than computer simulations of its working can do.
