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Closely related (and even briefly shown in the video) to the description of a computer as a bicycle for the mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqxWlvJ35yk ht

by avhon1 8y ago

Closely related (and even briefly shown in the video) to the description of a computer as a bicycle for the mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqxWlvJ35yk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqxWlvJ35yk

SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
I don't really care for that metaphor, while it does make sense at a base level, I feel like it doesn't quite fit. A bicycle is (once constructed) entirely man powered - it only goes as well as we are able to power it. The computer is more of a car for our minds - they run on electricity/gas, take minor low effort inputs from us, and transform them into massively larger outputs not due to simple mechanical laws, but because of a secondary source of impetus. There isn't that 1:1 input/output that a bike has.
- mrob 8y ago
  Not only that, but a bicycle is something that feels like part of your own body when you're using it. If you think too hard about the positions of everything you'll probably ride worse. A computer on the other hand is something that requires careful thought to get the most out of it. The real bicycle for the mind is pencil and paper.
  - adamc 8y ago
    That's a good analogy. Pencil (or pen) and paper go at human speed, like a bicycle, and have no artificial constraints (glyphs available for writing, for example). I still use notebooks for some things. You can draw in a notebook (and yes, I know you can draw on a computer, but in many ways it is more involved). The link between thought and recording is much tighter than on a computer. It would be interesting to look at how our tools shape and limit our thinking.
- tokai 8y ago
  Also the interfaces for a bicycle have been functionally the same for over a hundred years. While they have changed with technology, a rider from 1900 could without issues ride a modern bike. I know a guy that uses a +70 year old bike daily, and it does the job he needs it for as good as any other bike. As a layperson it's possible to understand every mechanical part of your bike, and even fix them yourself with some effort. To me bikes and computers are as different as they come.
  - SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
    > As a layperson it's possible to understand every mechanical part of your bike, and even fix them yourself with some effort. That's part of the real joy for me - "hmm... something is making a noise" and then you can tinker until the noise goes away. There's learning feedback still available on a bike.

by avhon1 8y ago

SketchySeaBeast 8y ago

I don't really care for that metaphor, while it does make sense at a base level, I feel like it doesn't quite fit. A bicycle is (once constructed) entirely man powered - it only goes as well as we are able to power it. The computer is more of a car for our minds - they run on electricity/gas, take minor low effort inputs from us, and transform them into massively larger outputs not due to simple mechanical laws, but because of a secondary source of impetus. There isn't that 1:1 input/output that a bike has.

mrob 8y ago
Not only that, but a bicycle is something that feels like part of your own body when you're using it. If you think too hard about the positions of everything you'll probably ride worse. A computer on the other hand is something that requires careful thought to get the most out of it. The real bicycle for the mind is pencil and paper.
- adamc 8y ago
  That's a good analogy. Pencil (or pen) and paper go at human speed, like a bicycle, and have no artificial constraints (glyphs available for writing, for example). I still use notebooks for some things. You can draw in a notebook (and yes, I know you can draw on a computer, but in many ways it is more involved). The link between thought and recording is much tighter than on a computer. It would be interesting to look at how our tools shape and limit our thinking.
tokai 8y ago
Also the interfaces for a bicycle have been functionally the same for over a hundred years. While they have changed with technology, a rider from 1900 could without issues ride a modern bike. I know a guy that uses a +70 year old bike daily, and it does the job he needs it for as good as any other bike. As a layperson it's possible to understand every mechanical part of your bike, and even fix them yourself with some effort. To me bikes and computers are as different as they come.
- SketchySeaBeast 8y ago
  > As a layperson it's possible to understand every mechanical part of your bike, and even fix them yourself with some effort. That's part of the real joy for me - "hmm... something is making a noise" and then you can tinker until the noise goes away. There's learning feedback still available on a bike.