Reading Thought Questions:
Vannevar Bush: As We May Think
1. The article "As We May Think" was published in 1945. Yet it continues to be mentioned in articles, especially in the area of library and information science, today. Why do you think this is so?
2. In Section 1 Bush writes "Mendel's concept of the laws of genetics was lost to the world for a generation because his publication did not reach the few who were capable of grasping and extending it; and this sort of catastrophe is undoubtedly being repeated all about us, as truly significant attainments become lost in the mass of the inconsequential." Has that problem gone away or has it intensified? What role can librarians play in dealing with such a problem?
3. Throughout the essay, Bush writes of future technical possibilities. Which of these have come to pass? What do they look like now?
4. In sections 4 and 5, Bush talks about turning over certain functions to machines, reserving other functions for human beings. Do you agree with his division of labor? If not, how would you reallocate functions between humans and machines? How would this dichotomy apply to libraries, especially in the era when many users of a library may never set foot in the building?
5. In section 6 Bush talks about a new approach to indexing. How would such a system work? Is it feasible?
6. In sections 6 through 8 Bush talks about the Memex. Do we have anything comparable today? If so, what is it? How does it compare to the Memex?
7. If you could go back in time and talk to the author about his article, what would you say to him?