Thehuman mind does not work that way. It operates by asso-ciation.
I find the concept of modeling systems based on the human biological system very interesting. One example of this is neural networks, which imitates how the human brain processes information in order to process data. Obviously, this approach has been successful as neural networks and AI are ubiquitous in technology.
Selectiondevices of this sort willsoon be speeded up fromtheir present rate ofreviewing data at a fewhundred a minute.
We see these selection devices being used today for more important purposes such as looking at resumes and selecting applicants for job interviews. I think it's important to note that although technology is being utilized for something that has such a big impact on people, it still isn't perfect. These algorithms will not always pick out the best candidates and will exclude those who may be best qualified for the job.
Even under these conditions therewould be a total factor of 10,000 between the bulk of theordinary record on books, and its microfilm replica. TheEncyclopaedia Britannica could be reduced to the volume ofa matchbox.
It's fascinating to see how far we have come in terms of optimizing recording, especially in terms of photographs. Bush discusses efficiency in recording in terms of physical size, but nowadays pictures are commonly stored digitally, not even through physical means. In addition, anyone have access to another person's photos as long as they have another internet connected device.
A record, if it is to be useful to science, must becontinuously extended, it must be stored, andabove all it must be consulted. Today we make therecord conventionally by writing and photography, fol-lowed by printing; but we also record on film, on wax disks,and on magnetic wires.
With the power of the Internet and the advanced technology we have today, we have much stronger and more efficient recording power today when compared to the past. Recording something is as easy as typing onto a document which does not take up physical space. Records of millions of people all around the world can be accessed by anyone connected to the Internet which is honestly fascinating.
The investigator is staggered by thefindings and conclusions of thousands of other workers—conclusions which he cannot find time to grasp, much lessto remember, as they appear. Yet specialization becomesincreasingly necessary for progress, and the effort to bridgebetween disciplines is, correspondingly, superficial.
To me, I visualize this statement as the roots of a tree. As you move away from the base of the tree, the roots spread out, become thinner, and increase in number. If one considers knowledge as the roots, the farther you get away from the base of the tree, the more specialized and specific you get in a specific field. Knowledge specialization mirrors this behavior as specialization means that specialization will advance the field, but it makes it harder for others to follow at the same time.