When Things Start to Think

Rating:
Summary: Bossy Refridgerators?
Review: An excellent book for the layperson to understand where computing is headed and where the lines between life sciences and technology blur. Gershenfeld makes it easy to understand how our lives will be affected by the incredible advances we are making in all fields of science. This book belongs on the shelf right along side Kurzweil, Norman and Metcalfe. It will round out our comprehension of the future, both near and farther out on the horizon. I learned about PEM three-dimensional printers and how they will help us model our ideas. I learned about the all too easy use of buzzwords such as "fuzzy logic" to confuse the public into thinking something "new" is happening. I learned a great new definition for religion-"Beliefs about our existence that are not falsifiable have a central place in human experience-they're called religion." And I learned about a great place for students of all backgrounds to work together for fun and maybe even profit-the Media labs at MIT. And I found an answer to a question that has long been bothering me. "Marvin Minsky believes that the study of artificial intelligence failed to live up to its promise, not because of any lack of intelligence in the programs or the programmers, but because of the limited life experience of a computer that can't see, or hear, or move." Anyone with even a hint of questions about the future and what it might hold for us should pick up this book. It is marvelous reading, despite the weight of the subject matter!

Rating:
Summary: Do things have rights, too? Oh, Yeah!!!
Review: Can you imagine books that can change into other books so all you need is one book or a pair of computerized shoes that communicates through your body network? "When Things Start to Think" is a book written by Neil Gershenfeld, director of the Media Lab at MIT that will let you get a head start for people who are interested in future technology development. The book gives a really good discussion on the digital evolution and answers three hard-to-answer questions: what are things that think, why should things think, and how will things that think be developed? Gershenfeld starts each chapter (idea) with a brief introduction and history background of the idea (technology). Then he discusses further into the development and current issues that are relatively close to the topic and maybe transforming it into a new concept with a little brainstorming.

Gershenfeld not only focuses on future technology development, but he also criticizes the perception that people have toward computers today. He suggests that people need attitude adjustment since the technology development is growing at an incredible rate. Digital money or smart money is an excellent example since everyone now does digital money transactions on-line. How do we adjust our attitude since we are rapidly changing from atom-money to bit-money? Gershenfeld has a very unique point of view. He also gives a fascinating opinion on why things should think, especially he proposes three rights for things: "have an identity, access other objects, and detect the nature of their environment" (Gershenfeld, 1999, p. 104).

"When Things Start to Think" is an easy-read book for people who not only looking for possible future technology development, but also are interested exploring the concepts and algorithms behind them. I found this book is very interesting and inspired me to explore further on the idea of "the personal fabricator" and the three rights for things. Some ideas he talks about in the book are very interesting, such as the wearable computer and the books that can change into other books. Some idea reminds me of another science fiction book "He, She and It." People might be excited and fascinated by these new ideas, but at the same time there is also one question we should ask ourselves: Are we ready? I would love to hear updated information of news experiments or ideas from Gershenfeld.

Rating:
Summary: Do things have rights, too? Oh, Yeah!!!
Review: Can you imagine books that can change into other books so all you need is one book or a pair of computerized shoes that communicates through your body network? "When Things Start to Think" is a book written by Neil Gershenfeld, director of the Media Lab at MIT that will let you get a head start for people who are interested in future technology development. The book gives a really good discussion on the digital evolution and answers three hard-to-answer questions: what are things that think, why should things think, and how will things that think be developed? Gershenfeld starts each chapter (idea) with a brief introduction and history background of the idea (technology). Then he discusses further into the development and current issues that are relatively close to the topic and maybe transforming it into a new concept with a little brainstorming.

Gershenfeld not only focuses on future technology development, but he also criticizes the perception that people have toward computers today. He suggests that people need attitude adjustment since the technology development is growing at an incredible rate. Digital money or smart money is an excellent example since everyone now does digital money transactions on-line. How do we adjust our attitude since we are rapidly changing from atom-money to bit-money? Gershenfeld has a very unique point of view. He also gives a fascinating opinion on why things should think, especially he proposes three rights for things: "have an identity, access other objects, and detect the nature of their environment" (Gershenfeld, 1999, p. 104).

"When Things Start to Think" is an easy-read book for people who not only looking for possible future technology development, but also are interested exploring the concepts and algorithms behind them. I found this book is very interesting and inspired me to explore further on the idea of "the personal fabricator" and the three rights for things. Some ideas he talks about in the book are very interesting, such as the wearable computer and the books that can change into other books. Some idea reminds me of another science fiction book "He, She and It." People might be excited and fascinated by these new ideas, but at the same time there is also one question we should ask ourselves: Are we ready? I would love to hear updated information of news experiments or ideas from Gershenfeld.

Rating:
Summary: Did I Miss Something?
Review: It's hard to provide a real expectation with a book like this. It's touching a very interesting subject and yet, it cannot really go in full technical details on how to do it. My personal expectations on this book were about looking at technology by hard technology fan rather than money-driven projects or from consultants.

This book, though a bit of simple light read, will show current and upcoming technologies in a raw science form; why & simple how those master scientists are creating outstanding technology by first having fun and at looking at simple problems.

Want to get a feel about the possible next eBook? It will explain how this could happen. Want to see what a computer chip in your shoe could give to you? You will read the why.

It was a delight to see that there are masterminds behind the annoying fact that computers are dumb. too dumb. The potential to make them live and help the humanity is there and When Things Start to Think is trying to convey that is a simple & easy read for a broad audience.

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Still Timely
Review: Neil Gershenfeld uses his experiences in The Media Lab to provide a glimpse of what technology can do and how there is a long way to travel in mindset before it becomes even more useful to us in our daily routines. Even 5 years after its publication date, the insights are fresh and the examples and stories are relevant. I appreciated the intoduction of concepts such as atom-dollars and bit-dollars and the idea of a do-tank. The logical case that assigns the blame for telemarketing to Pope Leo X made me smile.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wonders why his or her VCR isn't smart enough to tell them the time rather than the other way around and who questions why technology hasn't yet evolved to more transparency and provided things with the ability to think about simple but useful tasks that they can accomplish without us having to give specific instructions every time.

Rating:
Summary: Computers are for people...not the other way around.
Review: The author of this book is clearly of the opinion that the "Digital Revolution" is more of what he calls a 'disinformation campaign'. His arguments are to the effect that computers and gadgets need to be responsive to human needs, this not being the case to this date. Computers should be a suit of clothes a person can wear (literally!!) and not a straightjacket, the author seems to say. We should expect more from computers, and the Digital Revolution should be for people, not computers.

The author is definitely correct in saying this, as computers are still difficult to use for most people. The author's book is an attempt to propose remedies for this state of affairs, and some of these are highly creative, making the book very interesting to read. Some of the more clever ideas include smart paper, wearable computers, and smart money. He also overviews more exotic notions of computation, such as DNA and quantum computation. These ideas and developments are all very exciting, and no doubt most of them will come about....and soon.

Rating:
Summary: When DESIGNERS Start To Think
Review: This isn't a book about "things" starting to think, or even computers starting to think. It's about different ways to integrate computing power into our lives so the distinction about "what is a computer" starts to blur.

Wearable computers, smart coffepots, tennis shoes with CPUs, all of these are ideas which have become much more accepted (and real) in the 5 years since this book was published.

There are two directions computing can grow in the future -- automating tasks we already do (like the above) or, more promisingly, creating new tasks which take advantage of the advantages of computing power. Gershenfeld barely touches on the latter, even though examples are all around us (like the internet). Futurists working on films like Blade Runner, Demolition Man and Minority Report have had more to say. It is only when computing power starts to change the way we live our lives -- for better or worse -- that the true digital revolution will occur.

And it probably will be televised.

Rating:
Summary: A tour of the future....
Review: When I first read the book, I was astonished at how intuitive everything was - well explained, well thought out, and extremely well written.

I still look at the newspaper on my coffee table and wait for the day that it can do the tricks that the author suggested! If you're into technology, and are even remotely involved with the internet, this book is for you...

And it will be for your children.

Rating:
Summary: Easy General Overall Read
Review: When Things Start To Think
By Neil Gershenfeld

When Things Start To Think was a very interesting overview from the authors personal point of view on of what happens when technology meets the traditional social world that we live in. Much of it is derived from Gershenfields own knowledge as he explores the world of new technology. He admits to discussing thoughout the book about his ground breaking experience with Yo-yo Ma, and how much of his experience is derived around his years in the Media Lab. Emerging from these detailed stories, such as how marries music with technology, we start to understand that his efforts is a vision of a future that is much more "accessible, connected, expressive, and responsive."

Gershenfield touches on many various areas of technology from wearable computers, to The Big Blue chess playing super computer, to the future of money. He attempts to cover massive amounts of ground on this huge topic of progressive and intelligent technology that some might not consider this book a very in-depth read. However, I would consider it a wonderful overview for those who are interested about the development and evolution of unique technologies that have inspired us to dream about the future. These dreams help us to envision what possibilities can be done when science, curiosity, and desire to create collide.

I don't think that Gershenfield meant this book to be a scholarly one at all, but it was a more causal, easy, and fun read for all to enjoy on a low- tech level. Overall I thought it was a enlightening story on Gresherfield's experiences, and he does drive home the idea that as technology develops out of it's "adolescence" it's important to bring it closer to people so that it's less obtrusive and more useful.

Rating:
Summary: MIT MIT MIT
Review: Yes there are technological marvels described here. Far more important than the technology is the vision of education it describes. Students are unleashed on the world and the inevitable happens. Wonder. Vision. Passion. Transmuting lead into gold is nothing compared to the riches of transmuting human energy.