The Glow of New Technology

The Second World War created a need for many new inventions. Air defense demands lead to the information theory, which looked to find the best way to transmit info in noise, and the development of various forms of communication media. Cybernetics was first devised to assist fighter planes in order to improve accuracy. Using the information theory it was possible with statistics, radar, and physics to limit an enemy’s next move. These predictions helped to narrow down the possibility of missing the enemy target. Weiner was a very influential man in the realm of cybernetics. He developed ideas of feedback and studied how to control technological systems. With the help of Gabor and Shannon (who worked in Bell labs) they founded the communication theory which stated that there was lots of redundancy in communication methods. The text, “Spirit of the Web” provides the example of the telephone. It is easier to predict what the person is going to say if you know the person really well. It is more difficult if the person is a stranger. With these new completed ideas of communication, cybernetics was beginning to become complete. Weiner was sure that cybernetics would be used for military purposes and factories, and after the A-bomb hit Hiroshima, he knew he wouldn’t be able to accept this new world. He refused to keep working for the military or accept military funding. Wieners absence didn’t kill the glow of this new technology. It had so many possibilities in the eyes of the military. However, true communication involves a sense of meaning and understanding, which cybernetics could never attain. This wasn’t a concern, and soon the project was given to new enthusiasts in the Artificial intelligence department.

Reading this sort of history makes me think that we have created a monster. Cybernetics allows for many breakthroughs in technology and communication, however, it still scares me. The whole premise of artificial intelligence is disturbing. Perhaps I am being conflicted because I have been forced to see one too many sci-fi movies where robots kill all of man-kind. It sounds childish for me to take Hollywood movies that seriously, but I have studied the past which shows that the desires for new technology have made humans blind to the repercussions it may have. Most of our technological breakthroughs have come back to haunt us. Will this one help or hurt us in the long run?