Response to lecture 2

Response to lecture 2

Today's lecture discussed a brief history of the computer and of the Internet. As a amateur social scientist, (or just your average bachelor of psychology student), the part I found intriguing about this account of history was the social and cultural context that dictated the creation of the computer and of the Internet. For example, the works of Lady Byron in her creation of the punchcard system could be seen as the forerunning for computer programming, but because of her gender, her work was not acknowledged as her own. One can't help but wonder the advancements that could have been possible if her work and abilities were fostered instead or ignored. Another example of a great mind to fall victim of their social climate was Alan Turing. Turing worked on a team during world war 2, to create the first 'computer' which was used to decode messages from the German military, and later went on to introduce the world to the concept of artificial intelligence. Despite his contribute to society, and (at least acknowledged retrospectively) his contribution to the creation of the computer, Turing was persecuted for his lifestyle chooses, as a homosexual in a historical period of blatant homophobia, Turing went on to commit suicide. The work of Turing also highlights another historically relevant contribution, that of the military. The influence of the military can also be seen in the creation of the Internet, in the form of monetary backing. To an extent, the military is responsible for shaping the direction of both the creation of the computer and of the Internet.