SHAVONISAPS.

The article, ‘As We May Think’ by Vannear Bush was fairly interesting; the paper calling for a new relationship between thinking man and the sum of our knowledge, while also offering an incentive for men of science after the war and urging them to turn to the duty of enabling our incomprehensible store of knowledge to become more available and understandable.

I found Bush’s viewpoint of inventions to be true; deeming that they merely extend man’s physical powers rather than powers of the mind. Looking around at the inventions of today, it is easy to see just how accurate this notion is. Trip hammers multiply the power of fists, microscopes sharpen the eye, and telephones carry ones voice over distances.

Inventions as a result of knowledge and man’s use of science have provided us with much lasting benefit. As Bush pinpoints, it has given man increased control of his material environment, improved his food, clothing and shelter, it has increased his security and released him partly from the bondage of bare existence. Further, it has provided man with an advanced freedom from disease; thus increasing his lifespan and providing increased knowledge of his own biological processes. It has also provided instantaneous communication between individuals.

It amazes me to see how far science and knowledge have come and where it is headed. I have conversations with my 82 year-old Grandfather, who comes over for morning coffee and chit-chat. Each day he is astounded by the technology and inventions that we have around the house, whether it be the front camera on the iPhone, a USB, an application downloaded from the Apple iTunes store, he is always bewildered.

“Blimey! Well we didn’t have that in my day”, he always says.

What’s amazing is how our culture has become somewhat accustomed to groundbreaking creations. It’s ordinary for us. We constantly demand and rely on high-tech innovations. This idea is also highlighted within Bush’s article, quoting, “The world has arrived at an age of cheap and complex devices of great reliability; and something is bound to come of it”.

Inventions, today, are produced with minimal labor costs- “machines with interchangeable parts are now constructed with great economy of effort and perform reliably”, whereas, years ago, mass production was not readily available and the economies of the situation were against production and innovation.

In order for science, discovery and creation to continue into the future, Bush stresses the importance for knowledge. He communicates the awareness that we have become “bogged down” as a result of specialisation; with publications for innovation extending beyond our present ability to make sense and real use of the record. After reading this, I am brought back to the words of Adrian in the unlecture last week.

“There is a difference between mere information and true knowledge”. And I think in any instance or specialisation, especially science, that we take heed to this in order to provide much benefit for ourselves, and those to proceed us, in the future.