Critical Response No. 4

In her text “My Mother Was A Computer”, Katherine Hayles discusses how the meaning of that particular phrase has evolved over the past half-century. As technology develops, we have moved away from the concept of a human as a computer, or calculator, and into one that relies on mechanisms to perform these functions for us. As the 21^st Century progresses, we will continue to see the capabilities of computers surpass those of human beings. Hayles references Stephen Wolfram when exploring the concept of computational systems displacing the role of ‘Mother Nature’ in human existence. She points out that there is an underlying network of computational systems that has become a fundamental aspect of human life. With his extensive work in the development of these systems there are few who would agree more than Wolfram, whose research and innovative algorithms have brought us such useful sites of information and calculation as Wolfram Alpha. 

Hayles explores the relationship between traditional forms of literacy and media and the more recent digital technologies. The three functions of these media she discusses are: making or creating, storing, and transmitting (Hayles 7). Hayles’ text was published in 2005, and with the rapid development of technology her theories on the role of the computer in human life are arguably even more applicable today. Significant advances have been made in the field of artificial intelligence, hinting at the notion that the computer might be capable of surpassing the knowledge of the programmers behind it and nudging the machine ever closer to humanity. One recent example of the innovations in this realm would be Watson, the IBM computer that competed on the television show Jeopardy against two previous champions. The machine had access to a massive database of information, but what was most impressive was its ability to understand human speech patterns and place questions (or, in this game, answers) into context in order to answer correctly. Watson ultimately won the competition, almost tripling the other contestants’ scores.

 Ken Jennings, Watson's competitor, writes "I for one welcome our new computer overlords"

Hayles believes that computers will continue to infiltrate almost every aspect of our lives until this infrastructure is as important as that of the traditional, physical reality. The statement “my mother was a computer” may even take on a very literal meaning, in the sense that computers’ functions are capable of replacing those of our biological mothers. For example, children in our society today rely very much on computers to develop relationships, communication skills, and for entertainment. For example, my step-daughter is 4 years old and plays with our iPad every day on the various applications that have been developed for children. Now that she is starting to learn the alphabet, we’ve discovered several applications that help her sound out words and trace them with her fingers on the screen, rendering our involvement in her learning process almost unnecessary. Although I try to regard the iPad as a teaching aid rather than the “teacher” I can see how the development of these products could eventually make my role in the process completely irrelevant. Hayles cites Friedrich Kittler’s study on the learning processes of children, noting that teaching a child to read using books and letters gave “voice” to print media (Hayles 4). I think the shift to using digital media as a teaching tool and, eventually, as a teacher itself empowers technology in a previously unimagined way. How will children who grow up with this type of learning experience come to regard computer technology? Members of previous generations have expressed concern over our increasing dependence on technology but has this impeded its development? Once children who have been immersed in digital media from an early stage come of age will there be a more rapid development of technology?