Advent of Computing Episode 26 - Memex and Hyperlinks
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Mar 22, 2020 Explore the fascinating roots of hyperlinks, tracing back to the 1930s concept of Memex—an ambitious machine that never came to life. Delve into the challenges of managing information, dating back to early U.S. Census efforts. Discover Vannevar Bush's pioneering ideas that envisioned machines reflecting human thought processes. Lastly, learn why Memex, despite its innovative design and potential for linking information, remained a dream, shaping future internet concepts instead.
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Hyperlinks Predate The Internet
- Vannevar Bush proposed linking entries into chains resembling modern hyperlinks long before networks existed.
- His Memex idea framed links as a way to mirror human associative thought for research.
The Information Problem Is Older Than Computers
- The 'information problem' arises when the volume of material outpaces a person's ability to find and use it.
- Historical cases like the 1880 U.S. Census show how scale overwhelmed manual methods.
Census Crisis Sparked Tabulation Tech
- The 1880 U.S. Census took eight years to compile because manual processing couldn't keep up with growth.
- Punch-card tabulation later cut the 1890 census time dramatically, showing early mechanized relief.
