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Jeopardy's Watson to Help Doctors in Washington Heights

By Carla Zanoni | February 17, 2011 4:25pm | Updated on February 18, 2011 6:31am

By Carla Zanoni

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — It’s elementary. Watson, the super smart, IBM computer that trounced Jeopardy! champs Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter at the game show this week, is moving to Upper Manhattan where its genius will be used for human good.

The computer will soon be planted at the Columbia University Medical Center, on 168th Street, where it will be used to help doctors evaluate patients at the facility, Gothamist reported.

"Watson has the potential to help doctors reduce the time needed to evaluate and determine the correct diagnosis for a patient," said Dr. Herbert Chase, professor of Clinical Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, in a public statement.

Chase also said that the super genius would lend doctors a hand when it comes to developing more "personalized treatment options" for patients’ needs through use of the Watson software.

This week’s loss was bitter sweet for most viewers, who said the computer had an edge when it came responding.

"I did feel for Ken and Brad that they had a bit of a disadvantage," longtime Inwood resident Jackie Ferguson Hartey wrote in a Facebook message about Watson's dexterity pressing the button to answer questions faster than its human contestants. "A valiant effort by Ken and Brad!!!"

Washington Heights resident Gina Vergel was excited by news about Watson heading uptown.

"Holy moly! #Watson is coming to #wahi!!!!," she tweeted, later adding, "I want to date #Watson!"