As We May Think by Vannevar Bush, 1945.
Vannevar Bush is an American scientist who had contributed some of his great ideas to the World War. In 1945, upon the ending of the WWII, he asked an important question: "What are the scientists to do next?"
It is certainly very interesting to see how he moved from warfare to daily peaceful life. Even just a glimpse, he was able to give out the greatest insight.
The article "As We May Think" took me 13 blank A4 pages to print with size 10 font.
I was amazed of this clear, easy to read, no pretentious writing style of Vannevar.
It showed a scientist at thinking with some very passionate (optimistic) ideas about the future technology. I guess it's because United States did not loose the war. Or perhaps it's one of the glittering side-effects of the Hiroshima nuclear bomb. Vannevar was eager to move forward and to make technology more efficient for people.
Here are some of my personal quotations from the article:
"Science has provided the swiftest communication between individuals; it has provided a record of ideas and has enabled man to manipulate and to make extracts from that record so that knowledge evolves and endures throughout the life of a race rather than that of an individual."
In just one sentence, it's able to explain the purpose of the information technology--- to spread out the knowledge and not limited to one person only. Again that is really the beauty of the world wide web.
Vannevar was concerned that the information may not be efficiently grasped and used: the problem of accessibility. So he came up with a mechanical eye, telling us how it's possible with all the photocells, thermionic tubes, advanced photography, cathode ray tubes and other gimmicks at the time, would affect a transformation in scientific records.
"The world has arrived at an age of cheap complex devices of great reliability; and something is bound to come of it."
To him, taking visual records was crucial. Thus he spoke about the usage of cameras and photography. In his vision, the camera should be closely attached to the human body as a wearable device (in the size of a walnut). So when you see something interesting, you can make an immediate record of it --- "As he moves about and observes, he photographs and comments." Vannevar also used examples of fax machines, TV, film and microphotography to stretch how this idea was technically possible. Nowadays digital camera is everywhere--- his idea of dry photography has already become popular. However the wearable device is something that MIT took seriously only a couple of years back.
"Compression is important, however, when it comes to costs . . ."
Compression is really the key of how fast your data can get across. (He knows....!) The material which the data is saved on needs to be cheap. "The material for the microfilm Britannica would cost a nickel, and it could be mailed anywhere for a cent." That says more about accessibility--- be cheap so it can be anywhere.
"One of them [the machines] will take instructions and data from a whole roomful of girls armed with simple key board punches, and will deliver sheets of computed results every few minutes."
I especially underline this quote is because the cliche image it produced. Not very different from the 1918 photograph of the woman typists.
However......I have to say he is right again. Nowadays it's still the majority of women doing low level administrative works. Only the typewriters have turned into computers.
Another essence Vannevar pointed out was how the data got selected--- the process of selection:
"A new symbolism, probably positional, must apparently precede the reduction of mathematical transformations to machine processes."
"This is a much larger matter than merely the extraction of data for the purposes of scientific research; it involves the entire process by which man profits by his inheritance of acquired knowledge."
The selection process also has something to do with the systems of indexing--- how you catergorize the data. Vannevar has declared his way: "Selection by association, rather than indexing." Because that's how human mind works (by association!). So once again, I see he can be really organic somehow, always based from a human perspective and habits in developing his mechanical ideas. In his vision, you can easily talk to a machine for inputting data rather than striking keys. He even saw there shouldn't be any medium (such as keyboard or screen) in between, but direct electronic pulses that synchronize with our brain, body and the machine.
Here comes the ultimate important definition of the famous machine memex (or it can be a robot):
"A memex is a device in which an individual stores all his books, records, and communications, and which is mechanized so that it may be consulted with exceeding speed and flexibility. It is an enlarged intimate supplement to his memory."
In the last paragraph he kicked out some important reminders:
1. The applications of science can lead to cruel weapons but it can also be used to encompass the great record and to grow in the wisdom of race experience.
2. One needs to learn to wield the record for one's true good. (before perishing in conflict)
3. "Yet, in the application of science to the needs and desires of man, it would seem to be a sigularly unfortunate stage at which to terminate the process, or to lose hope as to the outcome."
Vannevar Bush has really predicted it all.
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