Man-Computer Symbiosis-J.C.R. Licklider

Man-Computer Symbiosis

J.C.R. Licklider
 

Licklider picks up where Wiener left off with cybernetics. It's a much more optimistic view of technology than Wiener's.  Licklider focuses on how the interaction could benefit not just him personally in his research but all people.  He proposes that we should let computers facilitate formulative thinking as they now facilitate the solution to formulated problems and to enable men and computers to cooperate in making decisions and controlling complex situations without inflexible dependence on predetermined programs.

Where Wiener talks about homeostasis Licklider talks about symbiosis, two similar but unrelated concepts.  From Wiener's reading we learned that homeostasis allows machines to self-regulate and take over jobs from humans.  Licklider introduces symbiosis which is a mutual beneficial exchange- in this case between man and machine.

Licklidder goes through some events in the course of his work day in which he thinks about the potential usefulness of a computer.  He describes how the majority of his time is spent doing administrative tasks and setting himself up to do productive thinking.  He states that the actual productive thinking, analysis and discovery process factors as a very small percent of his time.  He wonders how his productivity would be impacted if he had symbiotic relationship with a machine that would handle the administrative tasks for him.  I think what he's really looking for is Microsoft Office 2010 Professional Edition available at Target for the incredibly low price of $499.99.  

This dream of explosive productivity through software interface is great.  But only if you're conducting ground-breaking autonomous research can you get pleasure from this rewarding form of symbiosis.  If your tied to your office desk performing repetitive tasks with no feedback from the business apparatus then the symbiosis just allows you to perform more work for no apparent reason.  Then your computer becomes less of a larva and fig tree relationship and more of an inmate / bunkie relationship.