I guess I wrote that as a kind of protest at the simplistic idea that having lots of information and moving it around through computer networks is the source of all knowledge, understanding and enllightenment. It’s a view I see a lot around the place, and I wanted to get across the idea that it’s bull. The important thing is the precursor to information, though it may be hard to describe.

What is a computer for? Some thoughts: a computer is a medium for realising (visualising) abstract concepts. That’s how Mandelbrot found his Set, for example. In recent years, however, it has become apparent that you can also use computers to see what other people have visualised/realised. And in fact this has become the dominant use: no-one /does/ anything with computers any more, they just use them to see what other people are up to. And I get to thinking: what’s important is the abstract concept, which the machine can allow us to see more clearly. Just seeing the surface is like buying a house built on sand.