Introduction and Setting:

The text opens with the Herald Tribune Forums announcing a new series of public lectures. The lecture series is titled “Lectures to the Laity” and is broadcasted on WNYC from the New York Academy of Medicine. The inaugural lecture for the 16th series is called the Lindsley R. Williams Memorial Lecture on Men, Machines, and the World About. It is to be delivered by Dr. Norbert Wiener. Dr. Benjamin P. Watson, President of the New York Academy of Medicine, formally introduces the lecture series.

Origin and Purpose:

Dr. Watson recounts the history and purpose of these public lectures. Originating 16 years prior, these lectures aimed to disseminate scientific and medical knowledge to the general public. Medicine had evolved from being practiced empirically to having a scientific basis. The intent is to keep the public informed about scientific advancements that enhance our understanding of health and disease.

Evolution of Science Education:

According to Dr. Watson, the broad public understanding of science has been increasing. Science is being taught in schools and colleges, making the general populace more capable of understanding the implications of scientific progress. This increasing literacy in science among the public makes these lectures particularly relevant.

Content and Scope:

The current year’s lecture series will cover a variety of topics, including bodily functions, endocrine organs, psychology, psychiatry, and antibiotics. Each lecture aims to present complex scientific research and developments in simple language so that laypeople can understand. These lectures serve as an avenue for experts to share both their own research and general advancements in their fields.

Goal of the Series:

Dr. Watson emphasizes that the lecture series seeks to pass on new scientific and medical knowledge to the public. This is accomplished by inviting capable scientists and clinicians to discuss various aspects of medical thought and progress, in terms that can be understood by those without specialized training in these areas.

Layman’s Lecture Series:

The transcript starts with the introduction to a lecture series directed towards the lay public. Dr. Harold B. Keyes and Dr. Iago Gossner are acknowledged for their roles in organizing the series. The lecture aims to further public understanding of health, disease, and scientific advancements. The New York Academy of Medicine and the Board of Education are mentioned as supporting institutions.

Scope of the Lectures:

The series aims to bridge the knowledge gap even among medical professionals, as the pace of scientific development in medicine is so rapid that it’s challenging for anyone to keep abreast of all advancements. This sentiment is supported by an editorial in New York Medicine, the official publication of the Medical Society of the County of New York.

Tribute to Dr. Lindsay R. Williams:

The first lecture is dedicated to Dr. William Lindsay R. Williams, the first director of the New York Academy of Medicine. He was instrumental in the planning and construction of the Academy and strongly believed in extending its service to the lay public. Over time, his vision proved to be insightful, and the lecture series is considered a fulfillment of that vision.

Introducing Dr. Norbert Wiener:

Dr. Theodore Shedlovsky, the chairman for the evening, introduces Dr. Norbert Wiener, the speaker for the lecture. Wiener is a well-known mathematician and the author of Cybernetics. His academic background includes a doctorate in philosophy and a career at various renowned institutions. He is recognized for his contributions to multiple fields of mathematics and technology.

Audience’s Expectations:

Dr. Shedlovsky acknowledges that the audience might have varying degrees of familiarity with Dr. Wiener’s work, particularly in cybernetics. He mentions the potentially controversial topic of comparing humans to machines, alluding to public opinions that may find such comparisons either insulting to humans or to machines.

Invitation to Discuss Implications:

The chairman sets the stage for Dr. Wiener’s lecture by referring to a New Yorker cartoon that depicts robots building other robots. The cartoon raises questions about the future implications of technological advancement, and it is hoped that Dr. Wiener’s lecture will shed light on such complexities.

Overall, the transcript serves as an elaborate introduction and context-setting for Dr. Norbert Wiener’s lecture on “Men, Machines, and the World About,” emphasizing its significance in the realm of public education about scientific and medical advancements.

Historical Context:

Norbert Wiener, a pioneer in the field of cybernetics, discusses the origins of his interest in the subject. He frames the discussion by stating that there were two converging streams of ideas that led him to the field.

Automatic Computing Machines:

Wiener’s first point of contact with cybernetics came from his desire to contribute to the war effort prior to the United States’ involvement in World War II. He took interest in automatic computing machines developed by Professor Vannevar Bush. These machines measured physical quantities and were designed to solve ordinary differential equations. However, Wiener noticed a gap: they could operate effectively in only one dimension, time, and not in two or three dimensions. He envisioned an enhancement by incorporating television technology to represent more dimensions and by using a more precise counting mechanism.

Contributions to War Effort:

Wiener explains that his immediate suggestions were not implemented by Bush, as they were not deemed urgent enough for the war effort at the time. Consequently, Wiener sought another avenue to contribute and became involved in anti-aircraft defense, a crucial issue during the Battle of England.

Anti-Aircraft Defense:

Wiener explains the historical transformation of anti-aircraft guns. In World War I, the technology required manual computations using range tables to fire at aircraft, which was highly inefficient. The computation had to be done while the plane was in flight, often resulting in a missed opportunity. Wiener notes that the key advancement in this technology came from embedding the computations in the instruments themselves. This would allow the instruments to observe the plane’s movements and adjust the firing aim accordingly.

Concept of Decision-Based Machines:

Throughout his talk, Wiener underlines the significance of machines making decisions based on prior decisions, guided by a predetermined schedule (like punch tape or magnetized tape). This idea would later play a foundational role in the development of more advanced computing systems.

Summary:

Norbert Wiener outlines how his interests in automatic computing machines and anti-aircraft defense during World War II led him to the field of cybernetics. He emphasizes the potential of machines capable of decision-making and discusses the gaps in existing technology that he sought to address. His work symbolizes the synthesis of technology and theoretical considerations, laying the groundwork for future advancements in cybernetics and computing.

Human-Machine Interface:

Norbert Wiener discusses the integration of human and mechanical elements in fire control systems for anti-aircraft guns. He emphasizes that the actual fire control is a system involving both human beings and machines. They must be understood as a single structure, either through a human interpretation of the machine or a mechanical interpretation of the human operator.

Negative Feedback Systems:

Wiener introduces the concept of negative feedback apparatus, commonly used in systems like steam engine governors and ship steering mechanisms. In these systems, the output affects the input in a way that reduces errors, aiming for a stable condition. For example, in ship steering, the quartermaster moves an element that influences the rudder, which is adjusted according to the difference between its actual and commanded positions.

Pathology of Negative Feedback:

Wiener mentions that negative feedback systems can have “diseases” or malfunctions. He cites the work of physicist Clark Maxwell from 1868, who discussed these drawbacks. If the feedback is too intense, it can cause the system to oscillate around the desired position, never stabilizing. This phenomenon is called “hunting.”

Feedback in Human Behavior:

In trying to relate feedback systems to human behavior, Wiener and his colleagues looked for diseases where humans exhibit similar symptoms to a malfunctioning feedback system. They consulted a physiologist, Dr. Arturo Rosenblit, and found a disease called “purpose tremor” or “cerebellar tremor,” which affects the cerebellum and produces symptoms similar to those of unstable feedback systems.

Unified Theory:

Wiener concludes by suggesting that there could be a common theoretical framework to explain both human behavior and control machine behavior. Both, he suggests, may operate on principles of negative feedback, opening a path to deeper understanding of human-machine interactions.

Summary:

Norbert Wiener elaborates on the complexities of systems that involve both human and machine elements. He introduces the concept of negative feedback systems and discusses their limitations, including potential malfunctions. Wiener finds parallels between these systems and human physiological conditions, leading him to propose that a unified theory could account for both human and machine behavior.

Value of Speed in Computing Machinery:

Norbert Wiener discusses the role of automatic computing machinery, emphasizing that its primary value lies in speed. These machines are more expensive than conventional desk machines but make up for it with high-speed operations. To fully utilize their capabilities, it’s essential that all operations within the machine are carried out at a similar high speed. Slow stages in the operation would impede the performance of the machine, emphasizing the need for commands to be preloaded via tapes or punch cards.

Logical Machines and Human Comparison:

Wiener notes that automatic machines must be logical in nature, pre-programmed to handle not only numerical data but also the sequence of operations (scheduling). This property parallels human cognitive processes. He extends the analogy by pointing out that the human nervous system operates in a binary, all-or-none way, similar to the computing machines. The nervous system operates based on a system of “consecutive switching,” akin to machine operations.

Cybernetics: The Fusion of Ideas:

Wiener introduces the term “cybernetics,” representing the fusion of automatic control machinery and human control systems. The word originates from the Greek term “kyberdetes,” meaning steersman. Cybernetics incorporates the concept of automatic feedback control mechanisms, which are informed by both the human nervous system and machine systems.

Homeostasis in Human Body:

Moving on to biological systems, Wiener discusses the role of homeostasis, the self-regulating mechanisms that maintain internal bodily conditions within a specific range. He cites the work of earlier researchers like Claire Bernard and explains that these feedback loops are not just essential for voluntary actions but also for maintaining the body’s very existence.

Thermostats and Control Systems:

The speaker compares homeostatic mechanisms in the body to thermostats that control temperature in a house. He points out that these systems can have their own pathologies. For example, having a thermostat near a fireplace could yield false readings and unintended consequences, akin to diseases in the human body where regulation goes awry.

Implications for Medicine:

Wiener tentatively suggests that understanding these control systems and their pathologies may offer significant insights for medical science, especially in the study of diseases like leukemia. He hypothesizes that some diseases may reflect a malfunction in bodily homeostats, implying potential avenues for medical treatment.

Norbert Wiener’s discourse offers valuable perspectives on the parallelisms between machine systems and human control systems, laying foundational ideas for the field of cybernetics and its potential applications in medicine.

Homeostasis and Medicine:

Norbert Wiener discussed the concept of homeostasis, primarily how it is naturally occurring in the human body. He then moved on to introduce the idea of synthetic or external homeostats that interact with the body. As an example, he cited an anesthesia-delivering machine developed at the Mayo Clinic. This machine reads brainwaves and administers anesthetic accordingly, maintaining a constant level of anesthesia during surgery.

Industrial Applications:

Wiener went on to discuss how homeostatic mechanisms could be crucial in industries, particularly dangerous ones like chemical factories. These systems could automatically adjust conditions like temperature, pressure, and chemical concentration, reducing the need for human intervention. This not only reduces the risk to human workers but also increases efficiency and safety.

Standardization and Automation:

Wiener explained that the machines’ “sense organs,” or instruments, can be standardized across various industries, from automobile assembly lines to textile factories. Changing the product does not require changing the machine but rather adjusting the sequence of orders, making the process highly adaptable.

Human Efficiency and Automation:

Wiener referenced the movie “Cheaper by the Dozen” to point out that even well-ordered human tasks can be simplified and automated. The drive to increase human efficiency has ironically led to technologies that eliminate the need for human labor altogether. This brings up the ethical and societal implications of increasing automation in various fields.

Emergencies and Automation:

Wiener argued that automated systems could handle emergencies better than humans. This is because every foreseeable emergency situation can be programmed into these systems, and they are less likely to make errors compared to humans in stressful situations.

Implications for the Future:

Wiener hinted that the growth of homeostatic machines could significantly impact various sectors, including medicine and industrial production. While he sees potential for advancement in administering drugs through homeostatic systems, he is also aware that automation can displace human labor in industries, a point he describes as very important due to its ongoing occurrence.

Evolution of Industrial Revolutions:

Norbert Wiener discusses the transition from the first industrial revolution, which replaced human and animal energy with machines, to a new era. This new industrial revolution is marked by the replacement of human judgment at low levels with machine-based discrimination. Unlike the first revolution, where the steam engine was the symbol, here machines serve not just as sources of power but also of control and communication.

Machine-Human Communication:

Wiener highlights that the relationship between humans and machines has evolved. Machines are now also mediums for control and communication. They can communicate with humans and among themselves, indicating that the key terms to understand them are not just energy and power anymore.

The Risk of Dehumanization:

Wiener warns about the peril of neglecting the human element while integrating machinery into society. He suggests that there is a tendency to worship technology as an idol, ignoring its impact on human beings. This could result in society recklessly adopting technology without contemplating its social implications.

The Impact of War:

He brings up a hypothetical war situation to emphasize how rapid technological development could impact society. War demands high production, often necessitating automated machinery. After such a war, society would possess a backlog of machinery and technology, which would be tempting to deploy, potentially leading to massive unemployment.

Unemployment and Social Impact:

Wiener concludes with a grim outlook. If society fails to consider the human element and allows for uncontrolled technological expansion, especially post-war, it could lead to unprecedented levels of unemployment. This would make the unemployment seen during the Great Depression seem insignificant in comparison.

Engineer’s Responsibility:

Finally, he criticizes engineers who are solely focused on technological advancements without considering the social implications. Such a myopic view could result in a society where machines are valued over human beings, leading to disastrous consequences.

No Simple Solutions:

Norbert Wiener initiates his talk by dismissing the notion of simple consolations or easy answers. He underlines that living with machines necessitates an understanding of their nature and implications, rather than mindless worship.

Revaluing Leisure and Administration:

Wiener calls for a reevaluation of societal values like leisure. He posits that administrators in business, industry, and politics must start viewing the leisure of people as part of their responsibility, rather than considering it inconsequential.

Overcoming Outdated Slogans and Secrecy:

He warns against the pitfalls of sticking to old societal slogans that no longer fit the current state, as well as the “creeping paralysis of secrecy” in government, which impedes our ability to effectively deal with challenges.

Moral and Ethical Concerns:

Wiener contends that the ethical issues surrounding machines are analogous to historical concerns about magic and sorcery. He argues that using power for objectives other than morally justified ends was considered sinful, akin to how irresponsible use of technology can be damaging.

Learning Machines:

He mentions that machines can be categorized into two types: those that are programmed once and those that can adapt their programming based on experience. The latter kind can “learn” in some sense, introducing further ethical considerations.

Fairy Tale Wisdom:

Drawing parallels to ancient fairy tales, Wiener warns that while machines can grant us our wishes, one must be cautious about what one wishes for. He references the story of the monkey’s paw to illustrate how a seemingly beneficial wish can lead to disastrous consequences.

Concluding Remarks:

Wiener stresses that navigating these challenges will be difficult, but if society can avoid pitfalls like war and myopic technological development, there’s a chance to turn machines to human advantage. However, machines in themselves have no inherent favor for humanity, making the ethical management of their role crucial.

Consequences of Wishes:

Continuing his talk, Norbert Wiener revisits the tale of the monkey’s paw to underscore the gravity of wishes—both magical and technological. The story’s characters wish their dead son back to life only to realize the horror of his ghostly return, which they then wish away. This loop of unintended consequences serves as a metaphor for the risks of unthinkingly deploying technology.

Learning Machines as Genies:

Wiener compares machines that can learn to genies, specifically referencing the tale of the fisherman and the bottle. In the story, the fisherman releases a genie that initially intends to kill him, but he manages to trick the genie back into the bottle. Wiener’s cautionary note is that, unlike genies, machines that learn cannot be simply ‘talked back into the bottle,’ emphasizing the irreversible consequences of deploying such technology.

Public Engagement:

The segment closes with an invitation for the audience to ask questions, indicating the lecture’s interactive nature. It’s revealed that this talk is part of a series, the Linsley R. Williams Memorial Lecture, dedicated to enlightening the public on various subjects.

Media Coverage:

The lecture, broadcast by WNYC-FM, is introduced as a public service feature, emphasizing its educational intent. However, it’s noted that time constraints won’t allow for the Q&A segment to be broadcast, indicating limitations in public discourse on complex issues like the relationship between men and machines.

Future Lectures:

The series plans to continue with lectures on diverse subjects, the next being on ‘the Renaissance in endocrinology’ by Dr. Hans Selye, highlighting the series’ multi-disciplinary approach to public education.

The take-away is that machines, particularly those that can learn, present irreversible ethical and practical challenges that society needs to think through carefully. Wiener stresses the inability to ‘undo’ actions when it comes to certain technological advancements, advising caution and thoughtful consideration.