When Things Start to Think

by Neil Gershenfeld

This is a book for people who want to know what the future is going to look like and for people who want to know how to create the future. Gershenfeld offers a glimpse at the brave new post-computerized world, where microchips work for us instead of against us. He argues that we waste the potential of the microchip when we confine it to a box on our the real electronic revolution will come when computers have all but disappeared into the walls around us. Imagine a digital book that looks like a traditional book printed on paper and is pleasant to read in bed but has all the mutability of a screen display. How about a personal fabricator that can organize digitized atoms into anything you want, or a musical keyboard that can be woven into a denim jacket? Gershenfeld tells the story of his Things that Think group at MIT's Media Lab, the group of innovative scientists and researchers dedicated to integrating digital technology into the fabric of our lives.

Genres: Technology, Nonfiction, Science, Computers, Computer Science

225 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Things Start to Think was published in 1999, but is still a thought-provoking and entertaining read over a decade later. Neil Gershenfeld covers a variety of topics, ranging from the evolution of computing, to the MIT Media Lab's unique approach to higher education, to quantum mechanics, to the importance of re-thinking the relationship between research organizations and industry. Even when he gripes about the shortcomings of these fields, his message remains simple: we've come a long way, and if we're willing to put in additional effort, things are about to get much more exciting.

Overall, When Things Start to Think is definitely a geek's book. It doesn't go into exhaustive technical detail, but it's still a bit heavy on science and engineering topics. I think that it would be a bit more palatable and enjoyable to readers with a STEM background.

OK, that's enough for this review. If you'll excuse me, I need to go into my garage for the next six weeks and build something crazy. :-P

[Alessandro Piovaccari · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all IoT technologists.

This book written at the turn of the millennium represent the jumpstart of IoT. Many great prediction that ended up becoming reality and some less ones. Overall a great source of inspiration and a great trigger for deeper thoughts on the utility and implications in the upcoming realm of pervasive connected device.s

[Amit · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Far more interesting than declaring a revolution is to ask how to capture the essence of what works well in the present in order to improve it for the future" - Chapter 1, last page.

This sentence is the essence of this book. The first section of the book has a few examples (like books, musical instruments, coffee makers, and money) based on work done by the author at the MIT media lab that illustrate the approach - of embracing what works before and improving, rather than tearing things down.

Today it is assumed that every "thinking thing" needs to connected to the cloud (so-called internet of things). This book also makes a case that this does not have to be the case. Things can make decisions locally with local knowledge, using many examples, including that of a safer infant car seat.

At points, it also offers an antidote to "software as the solution to all problems". The author makes a case for not drawing a sharp dividing line between software and hardware. Solving many interesting products require both to work together. I think people at Apple would agree.

Overall, an interesting read. And actually, I am glad I read it now than when it was published 17 years ago, or when I picked up a signed copy at MIT in 2001.

[Peter]

When DESIGNERS Start To Think: This isn't a book about "things" starting to think, or even computers starting to think. It's about different ways to integrate computing power into our lives so the distinction about "what is a computer" starts to blur.

Wearable computers, smart coffepots, tennis shoes with CPUs, all of these are ideas which have become much more accepted (and real) in the 5 years since this book was published.

There are two directions computing can grow in the future -- automating tasks we already do (like the above) or, more promisingly, creating new tasks which take advantage of the advantages of computing power. Gershenfeld barely touches on the latter, even though examples are all around us (like the internet). Futurists working on films like Blade Runner, Demolition Man and Minority Report have had more to say. It is only when computing power starts to change the way we live our lives -- for better or worse -- that the true digital revolution will occur.

And it probably will be televised.

[Joshua · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was this book that first made consider switching from a future in the musical arts, to applying myself in the computer sciences. A lot of what is proposed in this book has already become commonplace. Some things, I'm still waiting on.

[Sydney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another grad school read.

[Matt Monte]

Groundbreaking book written by MIT professor. Very inspirational, many of the technologies in this book are still in there infancy, 15 years later.