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Charles Babbage

…plus ça change.

A quote found whilst reading the excellent Language Log. Charles Babbage, referring to his conversations with MPs:

On two occasions I have been asked, ‘Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?’ I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question.

Our current government clearly still thinks that technology has all the answers no matter the quality of information introduced to it. It is our duty as technologists to inform and educate those that we pay to rule us. Whether they listen or not is another matter.

[09:18] Updated to fix some grammar issues.

Published on 2007/04/20 at 06:40 by Toby, tags , ,

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    by Edward Wee 2007/11/01 at 02:20

    Excellent quote and perception. Can be used in many context other than politics in the government. Some ppl think they install a software and miracles begin to happen.

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    by Adrian Smith 2007/04/20 at 08:33

    That’s a great quote!! So many things in life have nothing to do with our particular generation or our particular technological situation.

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