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Even Before Memex, a Plan For a Networked World

Posted by timothy on from the da-vinci-invented-everything dept.

phlurg writes "The New York Times presents an amazing article on 'the Mundaneum,' a sort of proto-WWW conceived of by Paul Otlet in 1934. 'In 1934, Otlet sketched out plans for a global network of computers (or "electric telescopes," as he called them) that would allow people to search and browse through millions of interlinked documents, images, audio and video files. He described how people would use the devices to send messages to one another, share files and even congregate in online social networks. He called the whole thing a "réseau," which might be translated as "network" — or arguably, "web."' A fascinating read." (You may be reminded of Vannevar Bush's "Memex," which shares some of the same ideas.)

4 of 119 comments (clear)

  1. This is not like Memex by sp332 · · Score: 5, Informative

    The Memex was (or would have been) a personal workstation, not a networked device. True, it had hyperlinking, but only among documents on the same device. This Mundaneum seems to be entirely network-centric.

  2. "Might" be translated as network? by Yvan256 · · Score: 5, Informative

    He called the whole thing a "réseau," which might be translated as "network"
    What do you mean by "might" be translated as network?

    Réseau is the french word for network!

  3. It's all hypothetical by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    French is a fictional language, much like Klingon or Tolkien's Elvish languages. No one speaks it natively, so what words might mean is of little practical value.

  4. Re:Good for him ... by call-me-kenneth · · Score: 5, Informative
    That's my cue to point out that E.M. Forster not only predicted the network and it's social effects, but forecast doom when the system runs out of capacity and engineering clue. If you haven't read it yet, read it now - it's short and great.

    The Machine Stops. (Written in 1909, as in ninety-nine years ago. In England.)