Glushkov's Plan for the Ogos

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In 19 70, the soviets came to funding a national computer network. The minister of finance did not want an optimized, decentralized computer network governing or informing the state economy. Instead he called for simple computers that would simply like flash lights or play music in hen houses and thus speed up egg production. It's with that kind of, centralized, how do we make this technocratically sustainable go that i think the orgos project runs into its greatest barriers.

Paris Marx is joined by Benjamin Peters to discuss the proposals for national computer networks in the Soviet Union, the challenges they faced in getting approval, and what lessons they hold for how we think about networks.

Benjamin Peters is the author of “How Not to Network a Nation: The Uneasy History of the Soviet Internet” and the co-editor of “Your Computer Is On Fire.” He’s also the Hazel Rogers Associate Professor at the University of Tulsa and affiliated faculty at Yale Law School. Follow Ben on Twitter as @bjpeters.

Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Follow the podcast (@techwontsaveus) and host Paris Marx (@parismarx) on Twitter, and support the show on Patreon.

Find out more about Harbinger Media Network at harbingermedianetwork.com.

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