Red HFR Cameras – The future of cinema? Photo: Ian Muttoo

Vannevar Bush’s “As We May Think” creates a feeling of possibility and speculation from the first read in. While Bush recounts the history of communication – particularly storage techniques – I could not help but feel my mind inclining to thoughts of future technologies and inventions (This one came to mind straight away). The fact presented early in the article is true. We now have a network with abundant amounts of knowledge, currently however, we are relying on methods of storage and knowledge retention that do not take full advantage of it. To speculate this in 1945 deserves bonus points. I guess the another main point is that in 1945 we were faced with similar problems. Storage, categorising, sorting, organising. Now we have these better methods, but we also have a lot more information and knowledge to retain, store, sort and organise.

Technology surrounding storage methods of communication (ie, photography, film, etc) are still clunky, but everything is headed in the direction of minimising this clunkiness. We only have to look at companies like RED digital cameras. Smaller than a traditional video camera, yet more capable of producing high definition digital images. The prospects of technologies like this are only just starting to be explored by film-makers on a major level. HFR (High Framerate) films and Peter Jackson and James Cameron in particular come to mind. (Although this one is taking a while to rub-off on film experts – the fans seem to love it – I can only assume that this will become a standard in the future.)

Interestingly enough, this ties back in with the ideas of Model I and II learning that Adrian introduced us too a number of weeks ago. It’s funny how everything relates and interconnects in the network. When something new – ie change – is proposed or implemented, defensiveness and criticism is always the initial response.

But enough about loops and connections. As Bush’s article outlines we are moving towards new technologies even now after such incredible leaps and bounds we have made to make things more accessible. The bulk of the article discusses the histories of technologies and how they’ve evolved. How we’re all able to take pictures that are higher resolution then experts could take only years ago. How we’re able to manufacture greater more powerful devices and technologies with even more ease than a basic device required back in the day. As our inventions become more adventurous, so too must our methods of communication, production and storage. Since this was written, our technologies have become even more advanced and adaptable.