Gleick

Cryptography is fascinating I haven’t ever really thought about it much but after reading about I understand it a little more. Codes are I think one of the wonders of our language. Its crazy the things you can do with numbers and letters. Its odd to think that a code can be generated from the language and if that code is understood can be used for so many things.

Margaret Mead said some interesting things. I want to focus on Meads thoughts about the meaning in a message, like anger, needs to be considered when sending and/or receiving a message. Meads thoughts are one that in my eyes just got fixed, because of the things we can do now with icons and codes for computers to read we have just recently solve that problem. Just to give an example if I sent an email to a friend and I said yo where you at? He doesn’t know if I’m mad angry sad or happy and just wanting to know where he is. Now we have these little faces that make the emotion that we are feeling on the screen. Its mostly used in text messaging but it has definitely solved the emotion thoughts that Mead had.

Norbert Wiener had a viewpoint that I feel is valid for today. He worried about understanding mental disorders; about mechanical prostheses; and about the social dislocations that might follow the rise of smart machinery. Like today if a person doesn’t have his/her cell phone or laptop they cant function. We have become so dependent on our machinery that we don’t even realize it because its handy. I wonder what would happen if the cell phones networks shut down for the day. Chapter 9 also discusses order I think that Gleick did a good job showing the linkage between math, engineering, physics, psychology, and communication.

chapters 1,2,3

The first three chapters of Gleick is very informative. Its very interesting but it really took awhile for him to get his point across. The attention to detail is good because the more information that is given the better the understanding but it also makes it a tough read because of the detail that’s in it. “Drums that talk” from my view point of what Gleick is saying that the drums translate into phrases there not signals or warnings. I figure that it will be the opposite that the drums would be signals as to who or what was going on.

When I was little I was in love with Chinese symbols but I never new the history and what they really meant I just thought they were cool looking. Chapter 2 gave good understanding as to what they meant. I never knew the symbols stood for different things that meant other words or phrases. Chinese writing is like breaking a code as appose to English where everything means what it says. Its fun when you think of Chinese writing because you can hide a message in plain site lol.

The reading of the first three chapters was very informative. I really don’t agree with the detail but the information is intriguing. I also like the way he broke down our language and its funny how our language really just appeared. Today we still generate words that have meaning and people use these words a lot. They have meaning because of the amount of people that use them. I liked the information in the first three chapters and I’m looking forward to the next three. 

Gleick's Studies 7-9

Gleick certainly searched a whole lot to discover the truth behind not only the creation of computer technology, but he even wrote in great detail about the process that went through the creators minds. In Chapter 7 one statement that stuck me was that he said, "Only the fearful and superstitious imagined that machines could be creative or original or spontaneous." In today's world those same people imagine a variety of different things, such as: the 2k black outs, how machines tie to cancer, and even the most recent 2012 apocalypse. I feel like our past creations almost haunt us today. Everything revolving on earth's ending superstitions ties to technology in some kind of way. This quote also explains how imaginations are brought to life. In today's world, people generally rely on computers to communicate, work, entertain, and create. What do people in today's world imagine for the future? What's going to be the next big invention, will computers one day be obsolete?

Turing only started with an imagination, that eventually led to the first development of a tape. This broke new ground in the past and in today's world with advance technology like an iPhone, people everyday are making up new inventions based off of their imaginations and bringing them to life with Apps. Shannon then went on to create cryptography during WWII and the advancements continued. At this day and age most of the hard work is done. Solving all those algorithms and developing virtual intelligence has become so advanced now that it's hard to even imagine what a "mundane brain" was even like.

I found it very interesting to get a detailed understanding on how the technology of today's world was born. Though as I read each chapter, I couldn't help but link the simple concepts that began everything we use today. When I read about Wiener's studies comparing the human nervous system and machines, I instantly thought about the creation of the X-ray, which eventually became a machine that examined the human body to a whole new extent. Even though his intent was the thermostat. This was a great read for those looking for an insight into the real past life of communications.

The Plot Thickens... Chapters 7 - 9

These chapters were pretty interesting. It's funny how all these processes combined create communication or at least helped to advance communication.

Reading about the Turing Machine definitely made me think of days when computers weren't even popular yet. When I was around 7 years old, my dad owned a word-processor and it was a big deal! It was the most basic black and white operating system ever, but at the time it awesome to me and many others. Not sure why, but I correlated images of the Turing Machine with a word processor.  I was actually stunned after seeing what an actual Turing Machine looks like... I definitely wasn't expecting the image below or anything like it.

Anyway, in these chapters, Gleick continues his main theme which includes background information on important scientists/developers/engineers and their contribution to evolving communication technology. It's still very overwhelming to understand how much mathematics was involved in all of  these processes. (Definitely did not enjoy seeing the word algorithm a bunch of times). 

But, of all the people mentioned, Norbert Weiner is probably my favorite. His opinions were drastic but also reasonable. The text says, "He cared profoundly, it turned out, about understanding mental disorders; about mechanical prostheses; and about the social dislocations that might follow the rise of smart machinery. He worried that it would devalue the human brain as factory machinery had devalued the human hand" (p.240). I definitely understand his concern. He kind of foresaw what technology has done to us as a society [now]. We're so dependent and so detached sometimes. While the advancement in technology helps us, it definitely takes away from the uniqueness that comes with instantly using our minds & mouths. 

Overall, I guess for every stage technology has gone through, someone has been in the background paving the way; making it easier for the next engineer to come along and elaborate on past ideas. Gleick's in-depth analysis of how it all happened in relation to communication is pretty cool! 

Thoughts on Gleick's "The Information"

The Information is a great to refresh any lost history lesson we may have all lost during our younger years because it does truly talk about everything; from words and talking drums, the telegraph and telephone to computers. This history recollection would be considered the The History because it details on the rise and development of each one and how it effects and influences society and media. The Theory focuses on the biographies of the most important explorers of information such as Claude Shannon, Norbert Wiener, and Alan Turing.

Gleick talked about a lot so many topics that I felt a little rushed. Gleick could have done more with dictionaries, Wikipedia and different topics. Yet there were other topics which left the reader wanting more. The book can be appreciated for those who would like to know about the technologies of the century

My Thoughts and Reflections on James Gleick’s, The Information: A History, A Theory, a Flood. Chapters 7-9

     I have always found codes to be fascinating but sadly have never been that great at figuring them out.  I had known to a small extent that math was involved. Now that I know what a huge part math and numbers play in cryptography, it makes sense that it has never been a talent of mine.  It’s rather funny; I have always said I am much better at words than numbers.  For the first time I am realizing just how closely related the two are!

     In chapter 8 when the author told us about different speakers at a conference, I thought what Margaret Mead brought up was interesting; that the meaning in a message, like anger, needs to be considered as well.  That is an issue we are still confronted with today, in our emails, posts, and instant messages. It is difficult to convey emotion, and difficult to read a message without inferring emotion.  Society sought to solve this dilemma with emoticons, a small picture that demonstrates an emotion.  It started with using punctuation and letters on the keyboard, but as technology has advance, has evolved into little pictures in most programs.  Some applications, like AIM, have a variety of themed emoticons to choose from.  I have to say I use them, and LOL, a lot to make sure that I get my point across, or to not accidentally offend someone.

     I think it is very interesting how people like to use the supernatural to explain processes or phenomenon that we don’t fully understand on is difficult to understand.  Like Maxwell’s demon in chapter 9, or like the Greek god Zeus to explain lightening. Actually, Greek mythology is another example of people sorting and putting things in order. People did this by sorting out nature, emotions, states or being, etc. and assigning them to different gods and goddesses.  It is really is amazing how much order dominates our lives.  Even the way we process and retain information utilizes categories and orders, by using schemas.  It’s amazing how math, engineering, physics, psychology, and communication are all linked!

Humans & Machines

Alongside the technological developments such as the telephone, alphabet and coding, the concept of information as a measurable quantity was also developed, this continues to prove that information floods our society. In chapter 7, the “Mathematical model of communication” was a product created to speed up data processing during the World War II. Gleick argues that this invention was more valuable than the production of the transistor. Both Shannon and Alan were pioneers in cryptography. They both worked on their own projects and met and discussed often about ideas and surfaced throughout their work. But, the primary question was if it was possible to create a machine that could THINK. Later, Shannon’s information theory became notable and featured in scientific journals. Shannon’s theory was relatable to Weiner’s similar theory that compared the human nervous system to a system of signals and switches. Weiner then examined the relationship between humans and machines in his book. But its true indeed that the impact of technology on humankind has been of great interest. Attitude towards progress, exemplified by technology, have varied and still does, between fear of change that it brings, and all embracing due to the potential of the “machine”. Computers help humans but don’t share attachment. Yes, humans have control over the computer but the computer has the ability to connect with the human. But in today’s society computers are becoming self sufficient. The theory simply gave value and purpose to the information. As mentioned in the “The Return of Meaning”, “…we approach the final phase of the extensions of man-the technological simulation of consciousness,” (Gleick, 413). The flood of information was responsible for shaping and changing how society communicated.  This was “continuing evolution” and helped humans reach fulfillment. Overall, Gleick provides the readers with a optimistic view of the future regarding the world of boundless information, he writes, is a world of endless possibility. We are our own librarians now as Gleick stated, for the answers are at the fingertips via Google, etc. Now that it’s evident that the internet has changed our relationship to information, the QUESTION in standing is…how do we react to these changes? Or do we?