A Logic Named Joe

Source: Hackaday.com

I really enjoyed “A Logic Named Joe” by Murray Leinster. It is a short story written by Murray Leinster in 1946. The story is based in the future about a “logic” (i.e., computer) that changed the world very quickly. In Leinster’s futuristic tale, Leinster correct predicts many of the technological advances that would come in the future.

I found a blog post by Mark Bernstein, who is the chief scientist Eastgate Systems, Inc.  Bernstein lists out several of the things that Leinster got right:

• Web terminals will be appliances found in every home – not vast machines serviced by an army of girls armed with typewriters.
• Everyone will have one; is is not only scholars and scientists who need the world’s literature at their fingertips.
• The computational logic in the home will be substantial. Server farms — Leinster calls them “tanks”, will be large but comparatively simple.
• One of the first things that adults will ask their computers to tell them about is fraud.
• When adults find out what the kids want to know, they will react hysterically.
• Fixing computers is a lousy and ill-paying job, even though doing it well is technically complex and extremely demanding. In practice, this means you seldom repair computers; if your computer acts strangely, you swap it for a new one.
• Wanting to serve mankind is nice, but providing service requires a very deep understanding of social systems.

I was amazed by the number of correct predictions that Leinster had. It truly is amazing!