New Directions

1. - David Gelernter

2.  X(leader)
 Y (editor)
 A
 B
 C
 Z

3.  About the author
 About the essay
 Introduction
 Computers and the internet not a revolutionary
development
 Computers : good or bad
 Inventing technology
 An opposing view
 Conclusion
 Glossary

4.  Was born in 1955.
 A professor of computer science
at Yale University.
 Has written many books and articles.
 Was also painter, composer, writer,
computer scientist and teacher.

5.  Excerpted from his essay “computers and the
pursuit of happiness”.
 Deals with the influence of computers and the
internet.
 Appeared in the journal Commentary in 2001.
 Also includes a letter to the editor.

6.  Continuously notified that we are living in an
“information age”.
 Two centuries ago, old agriculture age was
replaced.
 A way to the gaseous age of information.
 Many questions raised.

7.  In the old industrial age coal, steel and concrete
mattered.
 In new age, both information and coal, steel and
concrete counts.
 Information revolution does not affect our needs.
 Information age in easy nine characters
(uhaul.com).

8.  Internet and virtual things will never change our
need for physical stuff.
 New information age make three arguments
 Sophisticated machines to create, store and deliver
information.
 Computer networks can overcome geography.
 Machines can act intelligently.
 Computation today makes everything look
different.

9.  Are we in information age?
 Defeat of geography.
 Internet is the latest in a long time.
 Electric-power industry turned society inside out.
 Is internet the greatest and most significant
achievement?

10.  It’s new age of hype not information.
 Computer revolution is still frozen, latent, waiting
to happen.
 Are we better informed than we used to be ?

11.  Computers information is good.
 Over-threshold in wealth and information.
[example about his own two kids]
 Technology; the tool for building social structures.
 Human ingenuity dreams up a new technology.
 Old and new plumbing structures excelled in
different ways.

12.  Compared web with plumbing.
 Technology do not affect net change.
 A major new technology remakes society.
 Human ingredient and machine ingredient are
incomparable.
 Inventiveness, productivity and potential wealth
are all unlimited.

13.  Preventing to invent and to develop would be a
tragedy.
 Inventing technology is the intellectual equivalent
of breathing.
 Mirror worlds, published in 1991.Was a
celebration of computer technology.
 Industrial age ushered in new categories and
possibilities.

14.  Online school could be world-spanning.
 And also helpful for mankind.
 In 50 years, machines will be smarter than we are.
 But still our uniqueness lies beyond technologies.
 Grateful to computer technology.

15.  Both new and old information are important.
 Preventing to invent would be a tragedy.
 Human and machine are incomparable.
 Internet and technology cannot be everything.
 New technology can make huge difference.

16.  Goods are acquired efficiently.
 Today, the internet is challenging China’s ability.
 Internet facilitates direct voting.
 Brings comprehensive education.
 Extends a universe of educational experience.
 The impact is unpredictable.

17.  Computers are good.
 We are in information age.
 Internet has made life easier.

18. cyber-billionaire
gourmet
phonographs
thermostat
triumph
stride
threshold
computational
ingenuity
ubiquitous

19. sanctity
bureaucratic
swagger
epitomize
pivotal
faucets
proximity
hype