Gelertner’s Mobile Computing Paradox

“Whenever we are organizing information, the book is too powerful an idea to do without in some form or another” 

-- David Gelernter

Are you an iDiot for accepting computers as good products? According to Gelernter, you just might be!

In The Second Coming — A Manifesto, Gelernter, American artist, writer, and professor of computer science, asserts the importance of the physicality of information. In 1998, he viewed computer users as slaves to the affordances of their operating systems.

But do his grievances still apply today? And did they ever really apply at all?

I argue that they do not: Gelernter’s love of paper and the traditional visualization of information blinds him from the irrationality of his own arguments. And the reason why we can see that irrationality now is that Gelernter would most likely be satisfied (or at least satisficed) with today’s version of mobile and cloud computing.

Gelernter mentions two things that lead me to believe this:

1. Electronic life will be stored in “cyberbodies.” 


   In the utopian, information bountiful future that Gelertner paints for us, humans use their “calling cards”, which identifies their digital information, with any kind of “tuner”, or electronic device, to exchange information. Effectively, this allows any digital device to be personalized based on previously collected personal data. 


   
   While Gelernter colors these actions in beautiful language, what he really could be describing is the way you might log into your Google account. Entering your username and password unlocks the capability on any computer or phone to access your emails, bookmarks, or browsing history from Google’s servers, personalizing your digital experience anywhere you go.
   
   
   
   
   What kind of name is cyberbody anyway?
   
   

2. Computing through the file-cabinet metaphor is no good for non-programmers.


   Gelernter heavily laments having to name files and sort them into directories. In an ideal world, files could have no name, one name, or many names. 


   
   Any modern notes app has the capabilities that would satisfy these requirements. But there’s still a problem: it’s all digital.

Gelernter attempting to come up with a new file name for the 50th downloaded email of the day

Gelernter’s real grievance is that the digital doesn’t afford its users to determine the depth and breadth of information. He fantasized about cyberbodies and ridding ourselves of dreaded filenames, yet tech that accomplishes this today still wouldn’t match the tried and true form of a book. In fact, any “cyberbody” or mobile computer wouldn’t be able to convey the exact form of information.

So what does Gelernter expect?

The precise reason that digital computing is helpful is why he won’t accept it: everything is in one place. Just by holding a phone, we will never know its contents. But does that mean we are slaves to them because we have to perform some form of work (unlocking our phones and scrolling)? Of course not!