We shape the world and the world shapes us.
The classic von Neumann model of a central
processor, now seen as a major bottleneck in
high-speed information flow, surrounded by
its computational assets of data and memory,
shares many of the same limitations of the
traditional large orchestra, with its central, rather
rigid, military-like conductor. In contrast,
distributing processors by nesting them in
clusters of data sets, and then linking these
together in dynamic, flexible, task specific ways,
is very much more like the more egalitarian
structure of a string quartet or small
performance ensemble.
This potentially parallels the crucial difference
between control, on the one hand, by intellect,
and limit, on the other, by intelligence.
It also parallels, interestingly, the difference
between the centralized generation of energy
characteristic of fossil fuels, and that of the
inherently decentralized nature of renewables.
This is all, it seems to me, very exciting.
[sketch…more later….]