ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Sparse distributed memory

Sparse distributed memory is like a special kind of computer memory. It's special because it remembers things in a way that is different than normal computer memory.

Imagine that a bunch of pieces of paper were spread out on a table. Each piece of paper has a number on it, like 1, 2, 3, etc. If you wanted to remember something like 'apples', you might put it on the piece of paper with the number '2' on it.

Sparse distributed memory works in a kind of similar way. Instead of pieces of paper on a table, it uses tiny computers that are connected to each other. The computers talk to each other by sending signals. When a computer gets a signal, it can remember the information the signals carry.

Each of the computers in the sparse distributed memory network remembers something different. Even though they are all connected, they each remember different things. That's why they are called 'sparse' - because there are only certain computers that remember certain things.

If you wanted to remember 'apples', you might use the signals to make one of the computers in the network remember 'apples'. That computer then remembers 'apples' for you, so when you need to recall that information, the computer can tell you 'apples'.