Memex Reaction

The reaction I read to Bush's "As We May Think" and Memex concept was written by Blahs and Noms in a blog post. I would agree with the post's evaluation on how Bush was able to predict most of the technology of today. I would also agree with the part where the blog explores how we take most of this amazing technology for granted today. We do not realize how lucky we are to have immediate high speed access to all of this information.

The part I find interesting about this review is the part about the processing of the information and lack of retention. People are constantly trying to keep up with the new. A great example of this in today's society is the iPhone. There are now numerous versions that have had both software and hardware changed, and in order to use the products, you must update. You have to keep up with the current in order to have access to the relevant information. The part about scientists now competing versus working together I would not argue with, but I would look at in a different light. I would say that this competition is very much how our society works in almost everything, and as a finance major, I would also contend that without competition and the rights to exclusivity that a patent offers there would be no drive, or at least far less, to advance.

Although I would say that this competition offers a direction of untamed advancement, it really is, like the blog states, up to our generation to see where this will take us in terms of a better society or worse.



http://blahsandnoms.wordpress.com/2010/11/28/reaction-to-memex/