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Only a few books stand as landmarks in social and scientific upheaval. Norbert Wiener's classic is one in that small company. Founder of the science of cybernetics--the study of the relationship between computers and the human nervous system--Wiener was widely misunderstood as one who advocated the automation of human life. As this book reveals, his vision was much more complex and interesting. He hoped that machines would release people from relentless and repetitive drudgery in order to achieve more creative pursuits. At the same time he realized the danger of dehumanizing and displacement. His book examines the implications of cybernetics for education, law, language, science, technology, as he anticipates the enormous impact--in effect, a third industrial revolution--that the computer has had on our lives.… (more)
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However, Wiener's work is incredibly prescient: he makes claims about the dangers of
That his insight is still so sharp, especially in light of the realization of several of his predictions (such as the chess-playing computer), makes this an illuminating and thought-provoking read.
NW notes in K1 that Ampere used term "cybernetics" with reference to political science (and "in another context by a Polish scientist"), each use occurring in early 19c.
K2 addresses learning systems and link to cybernetics: feedback does not merely characterize the process,