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Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension
256 pages, 2017
business & management
1082 booksWhy did the New York Stock Exchange suspend trading unexpectedly on July 8, 2015? Why did certain Toyota vehicles accelerate uncontrollably against the will of their drivers? Why does the programming inside our airplanes occasionally surprise its creators?
After a thorough analysis by the top experts, the answers still elude us. You don’t understand the software running your car or your iPhone. But here’s a secret: neither do the geniuses at Apple nor the Ph. D.s at Toyota—not perfectly, anyway.
No one, not lawyers, doctors, accountants, or policymakers, fully grasps the rules governing your tax return or retirement account; they may think they do--but they don’t. The same technological advances that have simplified our lives have made these systems incomprehensible and unpredictable to ordinary people."
In Overcomplicated: Technology at the Limits of Comprehension, Samuel Arbesman explores the idea that technology has become so complex, it's beyond our understanding. He suggests that we need to accept this complexity and learn to navigate it, rather than trying to simplify or fully understand it.
Arbesman suggests that we should look at technology like a biologist looks at an ecosystem. Just like in nature, technology has its own rules and patterns that we can study and learn from. This approach can help us better manage and adapt to the ever-evolving tech landscape.
One of the key points Arbesman makes in his book is the concept of 'accretion'. He explains that technology doesn't just evolve, it accumulates layers over time, becoming more complex and interconnected. This is a crucial concept to grasp if we want to keep up with the pace of technological change.
Arbesman stresses the importance of technological literacy. He believes that even if we can't understand every detail of how a technology works, we should at least have a basic understanding of its principles. This will help us make more informed decisions and be less intimidated by new technologies.
In Overcomplicated, Arbesman encourages us to embrace the unpredictability of technology. He argues that we should see it as an opportunity for creativity and innovation, rather than a threat. By doing so, we can better adapt to the rapid changes in our technological world.