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\centerline{Comments on[53i], [53j], and [54c]}

[53i] In this paper, which was presented in December 1952,
Professor Wiener made some predictions on the
future of automatic machinery and in specific on ``The Electronic Brain and
the Next Industrial Revolution.''  He rightly took exception to the
extravagant claims that were being bandied about concerning the future use
of computers, quoting as a rather extreme example some remarke by Bertrand
Russell.  At the same time, Professor Wiener showed remarkable perspicuity
in calling attention to the likelihood that the computer would not
necessarily simply replace man in the performance of some specific tasks
but that the tasks themselves would be redefined to better adapt them to the
computer's capabilities.

[53j] The theme of ``The Machine as Threat and Promise'' was again covered in some
detail in a popularized article that appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
on December 13, 1953.  In this article, Professor Wiener's principal concern
was to dissuade the public from a belief that the transition to an
automated economy would, or even could, be made without serious
dislocations and perhaps some changes in our social structure.  On the whole,
however, he noted ``that the prosperity which is in sight as a result of 
automatiation [sic] is ours to grasp if we really wish to grasp it.''

[54c] Following up on the earlier paper in the same paper, Professor
Wiener, this time with the collaboration of Professor Donald Pierce
Campbell, published an article on ``Automatic Factories---Fact and
Fiction'' in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.  In it he tried to draw a clear
distinction between the ultimate, long term, desirable progress toward an
automated society and the quick fix envisioned by many people.  He warned
that ``Every new invention has gone through a speculative period, when
bubbles have come to the surface, and bubbles have burst.''  Viewed in
retrospect, some of Professor Wiener's concerns were unnecessary, or
perhaps it was his timely warnings that saved us from some of the troubles
that he forsaw.  Progress has not been continuous; we have seen some
bubbles and there may be some yet to burst.  Nevertheless, progress has
been spectacular and the miniturization of the computer and of computer
components has lead to applications that Professor Wiener was quite unable
to forsee.

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