Perspectives on the Computer Revolution

Zenon W. Pylyshyn, Liam Bannon

Intellect Books, 1989 - Computers - 550 pages

This is a completely revised and updated edition of this text designed to introduce students to the historical, intellectual and social context of computers. Although the majority of the chapters in this edition are new, the original criteria for selecting essays has been retained. The text retains the historical pieces and adds new material on artifical intelligence, the human-computer interface, the intellectual importance of computing, and the social imapct of computer technology.

What people are saying

User Review -

Excellent compilation of papers from the for-fathers of the computer sciences and more. I read the 1970 edition and I fully recommend it if you want to have revealing insight into this revolution,

User Review -

Very interesting, and insightful. Pieces together a lot of lose concepts that intertwine the computer revolution. It does get down to the nitty gritty on certain operational concepts. This is good.
Master Rod

Contents

• Some Perspectives on the Early History of Computers 1970: 5
• Of the Analytical Engine 1864: 15
• Proposed Automatic Calculating Machine 1937: 29
• Preliminary Discussion of the Logical Design of an Electronic: 39
• As We May Think 1945: 49
• Notes and Suggestions for Further ReadingSection I: 63
• The Fourth Discontinuity 1967: 71
• Computing Machinery and Intelligence 1950: 85
• What is Artificial Intelligence? Extract from: 135
• Algorithms 1960: 203
• Computers Knowledge and the Human Mind 1987: 223
• Notes and Suggestions for Further ReadingSection II: 239
• The Trouble with UNIX 1981: 249
• Designing the Star User Interface 1982: 261
• Training Wheels in a User Interface 1984: 285
• The Pioneering Work of Douglas C Engelbart 1987: 301
• Suggestions for Further ReadingSection III: 307
• Industrial Robots on the Line 1982: 317
• Where Workers Craft New Technology 1985: 341
• What is Office Automation? 1980: 351
• Personal Computers and Education 1980 1984: 369
• Suggestions for Further ReadingSection IV: 397
• Social Dimensions of Computing: 401
• The Destruction of Machines in Erewhon 1872: 407
• The Technological Society 1954: 415
• On the Impact of the Computer on Society 1972: 431
• What Computers Mean for Man and Society 1977: 445
• Theoretical Perspectives in Social Analyses: 459
• Suggestions for Further ReadingSection V: 529
• The Computer and the Poet 1966: 535
• Subject Index: 543

Popular passages

Page 1 - The greatest invention of the nineteenth century was the invention of the method of invention. A new method entered into life. In order to understand our epoch, we can neglect all the details of change, such as railways, telegraphs, radios, spinning machines, synthetic dyes. We must concentrate on the method in itself; that is the real novelty, which has broken up the foundations of the old civilisation.

Page 1 - The reasonable man adapts himself to the world : the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

About the author

Zenon W. Pylyshyn is Board of Governors Professor of Cognitive Science at Rutgers University. He is the author of "Things and Places: How the Mind Connects with the World "(MIT Press) and other books.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Perspectives on the Computer Revolution
• Editors: Zenon W. Pylyshyn, Liam Bannon
• Edition: illustrated, revised
• Publisher: Intellect Books, 1989
• ISBN: 0893913693, 9780893913694
• Length: 550 pages
• Subjects: Computers / General