a logical extension of our desire to connect and relate things

July 1, 2006 8:20 PM

The Information Machine,[YouTube]. This short animated film was written, produced and directed by Charles and Ray Eames for the IBM Pavillion at the 1958 Brussels World's Fair [embedded sound]. Animation by Dolores Cannata. The topic is the computer in the context of human development.
posted by nickyskye (7 comments total)

Pretty cool little film. It almost convinced me that this computer thing might catch on. Nice soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein too. Thanks for the post.
posted by octothorpe at 8:39 PM on July 1, 2006

This is very cool. I enjoy the equating of speculators and future predicters as artists. Great music also, and a nice upbeat ending. Ah, information, surely you will save us from ourselves.

But why not link to the archive.org version (available in mpeg 2 & 4).
posted by MetaMonkey at 9:08 PM on July 1, 2006

Cute. I liked the Flickr-like windowing interface around 3 minutes in -- even though it was just an illustrative analogy. How could they have known?

And the THINK signs (an IBM slogan).
posted by dhartung at 9:23 PM on July 1, 2006

Good film. Interesting how much they focus on simulations. I wonder if people thought that would be the main use for computers?
posted by Afroblanco at 10:20 PM on July 1, 2006

I wonder if people thought that would be the main use for computers?

If you measure in cpu-cycles spent, it might be.
posted by spazzm at 10:39 PM on July 1, 2006

The voice over sounded familiar. Does anyone know who it was?
posted by Cranberry at 12:10 AM on July 2, 2006

Cranberry, Your question prompted me to Google 1958 voiceover narrators and the only one I could find that might fit the bill is Paul Frees, but I'm not sure. I really like the voice over of The Information Machine and wish I knew who it was.

dhartung, When I was a kid it was possible to pick up those THINK signs for free from the IBM building here in NYC. I have one on my desk now. Always liked that sign.

posted by nickyskye at 6:22 AM on July 2, 2006