Name/Title
1945/09- Life, "As We May Think" by Vannevar BushTags
LifeDescription
The article “As We May Think” by Vannevar Bush, published in September 1945 in Life magazine, is a visionary essay that discusses the potential of technology to manage and extend human knowledge.
Bush begins by reflecting on the contributions of scientists to the war effort and the need for new objectives in peacetime. He expresses concern about the potential for information overload due to the rapid expansion of scientific disciplines and the specialization they require. Bush predicts technological advancements in information storage and transmission, including the use of film to store vast amounts of data in a compact form. He introduces the concept of the memex, a device that would serve as a collective memory machine, making knowledge more accessible and helping to manage the information explosion. The essay also touches on various scientific inventions that could benefit scientists and increase the volume of records. Bush discusses the capabilities and limitations of calculation machines, emphasizing the need for logic and higher-level thinking in science. He suggests that machines can be used whenever there is a logical pattern of thought, providing real-world examples of recent recording technology. Finally, Bush critiques the current methods of accessing records, advocating for more efficient systems.
