Storage and exchange of information were associated with non-mechanical activities for many centuries. However, many scientists and engineers predicted the creation of devices we are accustomed to using now a long time ago when the possibility of creating such machines seemed to be extraordinary and unreal. Vannevar Bush expressed his ideas about creating a device able to storage all books and records of the user in 1945, and his article “Memex Revisited” (1967) illustrated how the ideas of the author were gradually embodied to life. Kay and Goldberg presented their ideas about the creation of Dynabook in “Personal Dynamic Media” (1977). While both of the articles serve as examples of the prediction of future inventions widely used in the modern world, the ideas proposed by the authors have significant differences related to the specifics of their visions.
The main idea proposed by Bush is the creation of Memex. This device was supposed to be able to store large amounts of textual information, such as books and history of communication. The author develops the idea that innovations in technology that occurred after his initial hypothetical proposal of creation of Memex made his vision possible (Bush, 1967, p. 95). The author claims that the idea of creating a proto-hypertext system was largely supported by numerous advancements in technologies he witnessed after publishing his article about Memex. Kay and Goldberg’s ideas expressed in the article differ from the one described by Bush. Kay and Goldberg proposed the idea of the creation of a device that can interact with the user (Kay & Goldberg, 1977, p. 394). The hypothetical system is called Dynabook (Kay & Goldberg, 1977, p. 393).
Bush is focused on the necessity to create a system that store information. On the contrary, Kay and Goldberg emphasize the benefits of creating the system that helps to create, modify, and exchange information. While Memex was supposed to function as a static database used by adults, Dynabook was supposed to be usable for all ages, flexible and portable. Memex was supposed to be a device that stores information while Dynabook was supposed to help to create new data and have mainly educational purposes. However, both hypothetical systems have similarity, as their main features have found embodiment in modern systems and devices. Memex is considered the ancestor of personal knowledge base software and World Wide Web, and Dynabook is considered an ancestor of tablet personal computers and smartphones.
The main ideas expressed by Bush have narrow direction related to the necessity of storing large amounts of information. The ideas expressed by Kay and Goldberg have wide nature, as they are related to the necessity of creating an interactive system that does not only store information but helps the user to manipulate the data and create new information. While Bush was focused on the idea of creating the device enabling the user to use the stored textual information, Kay and Goldberg were focused on the idea of creating the device enabling the user to composite, draw, calculate, etc.
Both Bush’s and Kay and Goldberg’s ideas were effectively used by computer scientists and encouraged the creation of systems and devices we use in our everyday life. Though certain differences between the ideas proposed by the authors can be distinguished, both articles help to explore the origins of modern devices and systems.
References
Bush, V. (1967). Memex Revisited. Web.
Kay, A., & Goldberg, A. (1977).Personal Dynamic Media. Web.