ITEM DETAILS

Boston, Massachusetts: The Atlantic Monthly Company 1945. Wraps. First Edition. Vannevar Bush's article from 1945 'As We May Think' is important in the history of computing as it anticipates hypertext, the internet, and online encyclopedias. We have put together a small collection of 3 versions of this article we are aware of for the discriminating collector or institution. It includes both the Newsstand and Subcriber editions of the Atlantic Monthly from July 1945 in the original wrappers (and different article titles), and a condensed version published later in the year in Life magazine. 'Bush's article describes his proposed Memex system for organizing, storing, retrieving, and linking information. Inspired by microfilm technology-which in 1945 represented the most advanced means of storing large amounts of information-Bush conceived of the Memex as consisting of a desk equipped with projection screens, buttons and levers, a keyboard, and a storage system designed to provide instant access to microfilmed books, periodicals, documents, photographs, etc. The Memex system would allow pieces of data to be linked into permanent 'information trails' dictated by the individual user's needs, which could be called up again and modified at any future date...Only after the development of the personal computer and hyperlinks on the World Wide Web was Bush's paper resurrected as a remarkably early expression of ideas that were eventually realized in a different way on the Internet.(Origins of Cyberspace 519).' The article is remarkably clairvoyant about the world we live in today hyperlinks, Google, even Wikipedia are all examples of the mechanical world implemented in software via the internet today. A very important paper, so much so that there was a research symposium held at MIT with pioneers such as Tim Berners-Lee and Nicholas Negroponte speaking about this articles impact on their lives and work. Included in the collection is the Subscriber Edition from July 1945 in very good condition (minor soiling to wrappers, wear at the extremities, spine clear and readable), the Newsstand Edition from July 1945 (whose highlight title is 'A Scientist Looks at Tomorrow') but internally is 'As We May Think' and apparently identical text in fair condition (spine taped, wear and minor chipping to the wrappers, and including the subscription card opp page 68 reproducing the front cover from the Subscriber edition), and a condensed version published in Life Magazine in the September 10, 1945 issue on pages 112-124. The condensed version is notable because it has included various illustrations allowing the reader to visualize head-mounted cameras, the supersecretary of the Coming Age, and the Memex itself. Many pages (including the Bush article) are on lightly browned paper, penned notation on rear cover, and minor wear to the extremities. A nice collection for the discriminating collector. Very Good.

[Book #18696]