Vannevar Bush - Revision history

Smith2 at 23:18, 19 May 2025

2025-05-19T23:18:52Z

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	In 1938 Kodak and National Cash Register agreed to fund Bush to design and build a selection machine that would search 35 mm film rapidly. Bush employed students including [[Russell Cleven Coile]] and, briefly, [[Claude E. Shannon]]. The design was comparable to contemporary designs using sensors to search decks of punch cards, but potentially faster.		In 1938 Kodak and National Cash Register agreed to fund Bush to design and build a selection machine that would search 35 mm film rapidly. Bush employed students including [[Russell Cleven Coile]] and, briefly, [[Claude E. Shannon]]. The design was comparable to contemporary designs using sensors to search decks of punch cards, but potentially faster.

	Bush and his staff were apparently unaware that microfilm rapid selector technology had already been developed a decade earlier by [[Emanuel Goldberg]], head of Zeiss Ikon the leading German photographic equipment manufacturing company. Goldberg had published descriptions in English and German, demonstrated two working prototypes, and already held a patents for it in the US and other countries.		Bush and his staff were apparently unaware that microfilm rapid selector technology had already been developed a decade earlier by [[Emanuel Goldberg]], head of Zeiss Ikon the leading German photographic equipment manufacturing company. Goldberg had published descriptions in English and German, demonstrated two working prototypes, and already held a patents for it in the US and other countries (Buckland 2006).

	There were significant differences: First, Bush’s design based on light reaching just the right combination of photoelectric sensors, which required multiple sensors and complex circuitry, whereas Goldberg’s design used the extinction of light to a single sensor, a much simpler method. Second, the content of Bush’s records was limited to a newly-keyed six-line abstracts, whereas Goldberg’s design used images of anything that could be microfilmed. Third, Bush’s design had the film flowing continuously (and rapidly!) over the sensors whereas Goldberg ran the film through a modified movie gate, one frame at a time but at an accelerated rate, which provided greater control and stability. It stopped to project or to automatically print a copy of each document found. Bush intended to use a synchronized stroboscopic flash to make an instant copy of each found document without stopping. Bush’s design would have been more rapid – if it had worked, but the technology used was unequal to the task.		There were significant differences: First, Bush’s design based on light reaching just the right combination of photoelectric sensors, which required multiple sensors and complex circuitry, whereas Goldberg’s design used the extinction of light to a single sensor, a much simpler method. Second, the content of Bush’s records was limited to a newly-keyed six-line abstracts, whereas Goldberg’s design used images of anything that could be microfilmed. Third, Bush’s design had the film flowing continuously (and rapidly!) over the sensors whereas Goldberg ran the film through a modified movie gate, one frame at a time but at an accelerated rate, which provided greater control and stability. It stopped to project or to automatically print a copy of each document found. Bush intended to use a synchronized stroboscopic flash to make an instant copy of each found document without stopping. Bush’s design would have been more rapid – if it had worked, but the technology used was unequal to the task.
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	Bush persisted and after the war, a new prototype was developed by Engineering Research Associates in collaboration with [[Ralph Robert Shaw]], head of the National Agriculture Library, with widespread publicity but this this prototype also failed. Shaw claimed that two patent searches had been done and was embarrassed when a visitor who asked to see the machine claimed to have patented the design. It was [[Emanuel Goldberg]].		Bush persisted and after the war, a new prototype was developed by Engineering Research Associates in collaboration with [[Ralph Robert Shaw]], head of the National Agriculture Library, with widespread publicity but this this prototype also failed. Shaw claimed that two patent searches had been done and was embarrassed when a visitor who asked to see the machine claimed to have patented the design. It was [[Emanuel Goldberg]].

	Bush’s visions were not technically practical or affordable. After a great deal of expenditure over more than twenty years, a single prototype was eventually put to practical use in the US Navy’s Bureau of Ships in 1961. By then others had abandoned rolls of film for chips of microfilm in a few very expensive machines and electronic digital technology was emerging as a better choice. Bush’s decades-long quest to make a functioning rapid selector is chronicled in detail in Colin Burke’s ~~“Information~~ and Secrecy: Vannevar Bush, Ultra, and the Other ~~Memex”~~ (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1994). ISBN 0 8108 2783 2.		Bush’s visions were not technically practical or affordable. After a great deal of expenditure over more than twenty years, a single prototype was eventually put to practical use in the US Navy’s Bureau of Ships in 1961. By then others had abandoned rolls of film for chips of microfilm in a few very expensive machines and electronic digital technology was emerging as a better choice. Bush’s decades-long quest to make a functioning rapid selector is chronicled in detail in Colin Burke’s ''Information and Secrecy: Vannevar Bush, Ultra, and the Other Memex'' (Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press, 1994). ISBN 0 8108 2783 2.

	=== The Comparator ===		=== The Comparator ===
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	*Smith, Linda C. (1991) “Memex as an image of potentiality revisited’’. pp 261-86 in ''From Memex to Hypertext: Vannevar Bush and the Mind’s Machine'', ed by James M. Nyce and Paul Kahn. Boston: Academic Press.		*Smith, Linda C. (1991) “Memex as an image of potentiality revisited’’. pp 261-86 in ''From Memex to Hypertext: Vannevar Bush and the Mind’s Machine'', ed by James M. Nyce and Paul Kahn. Boston: Academic Press.
	*Fairthorne, Robert A. (1958). “Automatic retrieval of recorded information.” ''Computer Journal'' 1: 36-41. Reprinted in Fairthorne, Robert A. (1961). ''Towards Informal Retrieval.'' London: Butterworths, pp 135-46. A critique of “As we may think.”		*Fairthorne, Robert A. (1958). “Automatic retrieval of recorded information.” ''Computer Journal'' 1: 36-41. Reprinted in Fairthorne, Robert A. (1961). ''Towards Informal Retrieval.'' London: Butterworths, pp 135-46. A critique of “As we may think.”
			*Buckland, Michael K. ''Emanuel Goldberg and his knowledge machine''. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.

Smith2: /* As We May Think */

2025-01-24T01:50:57Z

As We May Think

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	In 1940 there was a renewed effort funded by the National Defense Research Committee. The paper-tape machine was modified and found some use helping to crack the Japanese cipher machine, but he was using untested technologies not made by any manufacturer and it still malfunctioned. (For a detailed accounts see Burke (1994)).		In 1940 there was a renewed effort funded by the National Defense Research Committee. The paper-tape machine was modified and found some use helping to crack the Japanese cipher machine, but he was using untested technologies not made by any manufacturer and it still malfunctioned. (For a detailed accounts see Burke (1994)).

	=== As We May Think ===		=== "As We May Think" ===
	In 1939 when his first microfilm rapid selector was being developed, Bush drafted a lively essay noting both the difficulty of finding relevant documents and advances in photography, circuitry, and the use of photoelectric sensors. He speculated on what could be done with a microfilm reader and a personal collection of microfilmed documents, with a search capability and display screens built into a desk. It was published in 1945, attracted attention, and was repeatedly reprinted.		In 1939 when his first microfilm rapid selector was being developed, Bush drafted a lively essay noting both the difficulty of finding relevant documents and advances in photography, circuitry, and the use of photoelectric sensors. He speculated on what could be done with a microfilm reader and a personal collection of microfilmed documents, with a search capability and display screens built into a desk. It was published in 1945, attracted attention, and was repeatedly reprinted.

Smith2: /* Further Reading */

2025-01-06T19:55:50Z

Smith2: /* Further Reading */

2024-12-20T15:38:46Z

Smith2 at 20:59, 18 December 2024

2024-12-18T20:59:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:59, 18 December 2024
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	'''Vannevar Bush''' (March 11, 1890 – June 28, 1974) was an American engineer, inventor, and science administrator.		'''Vannevar Bush''' (March 11, 1890 – June 28, 1974) was an American engineer, inventor, and science administrator.

			== Career==
	Bush received BS and MS degrees from Tufts University in 1913 and a doctorate in engineering jointly from MIT and Harvard University in 1916. In 1919 he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and in 1922 he founded the company that became the Raytheon Company. Bush became vice president of MIT and dean of the MIT School of Engineering in 1932, and in 1938 president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.		Bush received BS and MS degrees from Tufts University in 1913 and a doctorate in engineering jointly from MIT and Harvard University in 1916. In 1919 he joined the Department of Electrical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and in 1922 he founded the company that became the Raytheon Company. Bush became vice president of MIT and dean of the MIT School of Engineering in 1932, and in 1938 president of the Carnegie Institution of Washington.

Smith2: Minor formatting

2024-12-18T20:52:22Z

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2024-12-18T19:49:25Z

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Amandashelton at 09:24, 22 September 2023

2023-09-22T09:24:12Z

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	== Papers ==		== Papers ==
	Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute Archives and Special Collections, Cambridge, MA ~~(''22.5 linear feet; in the papers of Norbert Weiner, there are some documents of Bush’s and VonNeuman’s. Unpublished finding aid with an index is available at the Archives (1898-1966~~)~~)''~~		'''LOCATION #1:''' Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Institute Archives and Special Collections (Cambridge, MA)

	~~Also at MIT:~~ ''(Vannevar Bush Papers, 53.5 linear feet, includes correspondence, reports, memos, research notes, calendars, etc. (1921-1974); collection includes transcript of Eric Hodgin’s interview with Bush in 1964 in preparation for his autobiography'' ~~Pieces of the Action~~ ''(1921-~~?))''~~		'''DATES:''' 1921-1974

	~~Also at MIT~~: (''~~Vannevar Bush oral history (1964),~~ .~~7 cubic~~ feet~~; search under Bush, Vannevar, 1890-1974)''~~		'''SIZE:''' 53.5 linear feet

	~~Library of Congress, Manuscript Division~~ ''~~(22 feet (1918-1967) search under~~: ~~Waterman~~, ~~Alan Tower~~. ~~Waterman was director~~ of the ~~National Science Foundation 1951~~-~~1963; papers include correspondence with Bush~~)''		'''INCLUDES:''' Vannevar Bush Papers, includes correspondence, reports, memos, research notes, calendars, etc.; collection includes transcript of Eric Hodgin’s interview with Bush in 1964 in preparation for his autobiography Pieces of the Action (1921-?))

	~~University~~ of ~~Pennsylvania~~, ~~Van Pelt Library, Special Collections Department, Philadelphia, PA~~ ''~~(1 item (1955) letter from Bush to Lewis Mumford)~~''		Also at MIT: In the papers of Norbert Weiner, there are some documents of Bush’s and Von Neuman’s''. ''Finding aid with an index is available at the Archives.

	Butler Library, Oral History Research Office, New York, NY ''(oral history interview ~~(1967), 58 leaves~~; discussion of Carnegie Institution of Washington and Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1939-1955~~)''~~
			'''LOCATION #2:''' Library of Congress, Manuscript Division (Washington, DC)

			'''DATES:''' 1918-1967

			'''SIZE:''' 22 feet

			'''INCLUDES:''' search under: Waterman, Alan Tower. Waterman was director of the National Science Foundation 1951-1963; papers include correspondence with Bush


			'''LOCATION #3:''' University of Pennsylvania, Van Pelt Library, Special Collections Department (Philadelphia, PA)

			'''DATES:''' 1955

			'''SIZE:''' 1 item

			'''INCLUDES:''' letter from Bush to Lewis Mumford


			'''LOCATION #4:''' Butler Library, Oral History Research Office (New York, NY)

			'''DATES:''' 1967

			'''SIZE:''' 58 leaves

			'''INCLUDES:''' oral history interview; discussion of Carnegie Institution of Washington and Carnegie Corporation of New York, 1939-1955

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2023-05-09T14:34:54Z

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← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 6 January 2025
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	== Further Reading==		== Further Reading==
	*Zachary, G. Pascal. (1997). ''Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century''. New York: The Free Press. A biography.		*Zachary, G. Pascal. (1997). ''Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century''. New York: The Free Press. ISBN 0 684 82821 9. A biography.
	*Burke, Colin. (1994). ''Information and Secrecy: Vannevar Bush, Ultra, and the Other Memex.'' Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press. A very detailed reconstruction of Bush’s involvement in the raid selectors, comparators, and cryptanalysis.		*Burke, Colin. (1994). ''Information and Secrecy: Vannevar Bush, Ultra, and the Other Memex.'' Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0 8108 2783 2. A very detailed reconstruction of Bush’s involvement in the raid selectors, comparators, and cryptanalysis.
	*Burke, Colin. (2018). ''America's Information Wars: The Untold Story of the Information Systems in America's Conflicts and Politics from World World Was II to the Internet Age.'' Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. This detailed history of individuals, technology, and politics provides valuable background.		*Burke, Colin. (2018). ''America's Information Wars: The Untold Story of the Information Systems in America's Conflicts and Politics from World World Was II to the Internet Age.'' Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538112458. This detailed history of individuals, technology, and politics provides valuable background.
	*Shaw, Ralph R. (1949). “The Rapid Selector.” ''Journal of Documentation'' 5: 164-71.		*Shaw, Ralph R. (1949). “The Rapid Selector.” ''Journal of Documentation'' 5: 164-71.
	*”As we may think.” ''Wikipedia''[[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_We_May_Think]]		*”As we may think.” ''Wikipedia''[[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_We_May_Think]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:38, 20 December 2024
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	== Further Reading==		== Further Reading==
	*Zachary, G. Pascal. (1997). ''Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century''. New York: The Free Press. A biography.		*Zachary, G. Pascal. (1997). ''Endless Frontier: Vannevar Bush, Engineer of the American Century''. New York: The Free Press. A biography.
	*Burke, Colin. (1994) ''Information and Secrecy: Vannevar Bush, Ultra, and the Other Memex.'' Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press. A very detailed reconstruction of Bush’s involvement in the raid selectors, comparators, and cryptanalysis.		*Burke, Colin. (1994). ''Information and Secrecy: Vannevar Bush, Ultra, and the Other Memex.'' Metuchen, NJ: Scarecrow Press. A very detailed reconstruction of Bush’s involvement in the raid selectors, comparators, and cryptanalysis.
			*Burke, Colin. (2018). ''America's Information Wars: The Untold Story of the Information Systems in America's Conflicts and Politics from World World Was II to the Internet Age.'' Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield. This detailed history of individuals, technology, and politics provides valuable background.
	*Shaw, Ralph R. (1949). “The Rapid Selector.” ''Journal of Documentation'' 5: 164-71.		*Shaw, Ralph R. (1949). “The Rapid Selector.” ''Journal of Documentation'' 5: 164-71.
	*”As we may think.” ''Wikipedia''[[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_We_May_Think]]		*”As we may think.” ''Wikipedia''[[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_We_May_Think]]
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	*Smith, Linda C. (1981) “‘Memex’ as an image of potentiality in information retrieval research and development.” In ''Information Retrieval Research'', ed. Bby R. N. Oddy, London: Butterworths, pp. 345-69.		*Smith, Linda C. (1981) “‘Memex’ as an image of potentiality in information retrieval research and development.” In ''Information Retrieval Research'', ed. Bby R. N. Oddy, London: Butterworths, pp. 345-69.
	*Smith, Linda C. (1991) “Memex as an image of potentiality revisited’’. pp 261-86 in ''From Memex to Hypertext: Vannevar Bush and the Mind’s Machine'', ed by James M. Nyce and Paul Kahn. Boston: Academic Press.		*Smith, Linda C. (1991) “Memex as an image of potentiality revisited’’. pp 261-86 in ''From Memex to Hypertext: Vannevar Bush and the Mind’s Machine'', ed by James M. Nyce and Paul Kahn. Boston: Academic Press.
	*”As we may think.” ''Wikipedia'' [[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_We_May_Think]]
	*Fairthorne, Robert A. (1958). “Automatic retrieval of recorded information.” ''Computer Journal'' 1: 36-41. Reprinted in Fairthorne, Robert A. (1961). ''Towards Informal Retrieval.'' London: Butterworths, pp 135-46. A critique of “As we may think.”		*Fairthorne, Robert A. (1958). “Automatic retrieval of recorded information.” ''Computer Journal'' 1: 36-41. Reprinted in Fairthorne, Robert A. (1961). ''Towards Informal Retrieval.'' London: Butterworths, pp 135-46. A critique of “As we may think.”