The article “Man Computer Symbiosis” (1960) by J. C. R. Licklider explored the idea of man and machine to work more in tandem for formulating decisions and thinking in closer association with one another. Licklider states that “…men are flexible, capable of ‘programming themselves contingently’ on the basis of newly received information” (5), while computers are limited by their “pre-programming.” This approach to the current situation between man and machine is preventing the author’s idea of symbiosis from taking place, and I learned through the article that should symbiosis happen, the roles and men and the roles of computers would change to better accommodate one another.
If a computer cannot solve a problem for a given circumstance, man steps in, and vice versa. I think that this already takes place at a primal level today, since supercomputers are being used to work on highly complex, scientific calculations related to cancer research, etc. that man could not reasonably complete. The kind of cognitive thought used in decision-making is not handled well by a machine, so people take the role and make those choices on behalf of a computer system.
The sheer number of differences in language, reasoning and approach make symbiosis a tough proposition, but with recognition technology and artificial intelligence advancements, the feasibility of real-time communication and interaction between man and machine in this manner is sure to be in our lifetime. Obstacles like the “input and output equipment” methods and the memory constraints will be eliminated over time. I particularly found the “trie memory” idea (8) to seem like a simple-enough theory that would work in the future for symbiosis applications.
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