Title :
Imagining information retrieval in the library: Desk Set in historical context
Author :
Knott Malone, Cheryl
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Inf. Resources & Libr. Sci., Arizona Univ., Tucson, AZ, USA
Abstract :
In the 1950s, a computer that could hold the contents of a library, retrieve facts and formulate questions was laughable to many. The 1957 movie "Desk Set" accurately mirrored the way ordinary citizens perceived computers and their possible consequences. On another level, the film\´s focus on libraries was an ideal juxtaposition of humans\´ intellectual capacity with machines\´ processing capacity.
Keywords :
cinematography; history; information retrieval systems; library automation; technological forecasting; Desk Set; citizens perceptions; computers; fact retrieval; film; historical context; human intellectual capacity; library contents; library information retrieval; machine processing capacity; movie; question formulation; Computer aided manufacturing; Consumer electronics; Cultural differences; Government; Image retrieval; Informatics; Information retrieval; Libraries; Military computing; Motion pictures;
Journal_Title :
Annals of the History of Computing, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MAHC.2002.1024759
