Full Description
This work proposes an answer to the question: what are computers for? It analyzes human activity and its relevance to computer use and interleaves a theory about the universal aspect of social life with a vision of how to harness computer power. Though technical in spirit and method, this book does not expect significant prior computer knowledge of the reader.
Contents
Foreword. Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Preparations. 3. Actions, Performers (Theory). 4. Actions, Effects (Theory). 5. The Pulsar (Vision). 6. Plan and Diplan (Theory). 7. Igo (Vision). 8. Information (Theory). 9. Stores (Vision). 10. The Vision as a Whole. 11. The Theory as a Whole. Appendix A: Information, and State Machine Structure. Appendix B: Petri Nets, and Related Diplan Exercises. Cumulative Bibliography. Analytical Index.
