As We May Think

As We May Think

The article, “As We May Think,” by Vannevar Bush depicts our society existing in an age of complete information overload. From scientists to professors, we have specialists of all kinds who are constantly overwhelmed with records, findings, and readings. In this case more is worse; specialists are simply being bogged down by information overload. This article explains the importance of compression. For example, Bush emphasizes that technological advancement in the lab by using symbol/photo/ film equipment and brief commenting more so than extensive note-taking/printing is crucial in making findings more efficient. In addition, such note-taking/printing may produce inaccurate findings in result of clumsiness with one’s figures/writing. Bush also explains aspects of “simple selection,” in which record locator devices, such as he had named the “memex,” are used to find specific necessary information only.

I feel as if such devices can almost be comparable to certain internet search engines yet the only difference would be that one would be locating only his stash of records, information, and communication than the whole worlds.

This article describes a concept which seems inevitable nowadays. It seems as if all technological media needs to be able to compress, simplify, and selectively find information so that no time is lost with useless information especially since time is so pertinent in our generation.