At risk of exposing my own misinterpretation of it, it does make sense if you read the section where Tom Knight is listed as a primary developer of LISP machine

At risk of exposing my own misinterpretation of it, it does make sense if you read the section where Tom Knight is listed as a primary developer of LISP machines. I believe the implication is that he understands it, whereas the novice does not, and the machine responds to his touch.