Turing's Man: Western Culture in the Computer AgeUniversity of North Carolina Press, 1984 - 264 páginas Trained in both classics and computer science, Bolter considers the cultural impact of computers on our age, comparing the computer to earlier technologies that redefined fundamental notions of time, space, language, memory, and human creativity. Surprisingly, he finds that in many ways the outlook of the computer age bears more resemblance to that of the ancient world than to that of the Enlightenment. The classical philosopher and the computer programmer share share a suspicion of infinity, an acceptance of necessary limitations on human achievement, and a belief that results are more important than motives. Although Bolter fears that the growing use of computers may well diminish out culture's sense of the historical and intellectual context of human endeavor, he contends that the computer also offers new ways of looking at intellectual freedom, creativity, and the conservation of precious resources. |
Contenido
Defining Technologies In Western Culture | 15 |
Figures | 20 |
Principles of Operation | 43 |
Derechos de autor | |
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Términos y frases comunes
abstract algorithm ancient world Aristotle arithmetic artificial intelligence assembly language binary bytes calculations central processing unit central processor century chess chine circuits clock clockwork computer age computer language computer memory computer programming computer space computer specialist computer's craft craftsman creation creativity culture data base Defining Technologies Descartes devices digital computer execute fact finite FORTRAN geometry Greek guage human idea infinite instructions invention Leibniz limited logicians loop machine language manipulate mathe mathematicians mathematics meaning mechanical medieval metaphor Middle Ages mind modern move natural language Neumann computer notion numbers operations perhaps philosophers physical physicists Plato problem progress puter qualities retrieval rules sense sentence SHRDLU simply solve steam engine storage stored structure symbolic logic tape theorem thinking thought tion transistors translation tree Turing machine Turing's universe von Neumann machine Western European words writing