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In his farewell address, President Dwight
Eisenhower warned against the dangers posed by the "military-industrial-university
complex." His warning became a rallying cry of liberal
dissent and, for some, this partnership became the most
ominous aspect of what came to be known as the "establishment."
Rescuing Prometheus presents a radically
different view of the alliances behind the large-scale technological
and scientific undertakings of the post-World War II era.
In his analysis of the accomplishments of this coalition,
Thomas Hughes shows how aerospace, computing, and communications
were revolutionized. He explains how the design and development
of four projects in particular led to a new understanding
of technology: The SAGE air-defense project fostered the
first interactive, digital computer designed for information
processing; the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile
project inspired a new form of management known as systems
engineering; the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel Project addressed
the complex relations between industry, science, and grassroots
community interests; and ARPANET, the Defense Department's
Advanced Research Projects Agency, would not only create
the information superhighway but also develop the collegial,
meritocratic management style now prevalent in the computer
software industry.
Rescuing Prometheus is an eye-opening
revisionist history of technology in our time.
Thomas P. Hughes is Emeritus Mellon Professor
of the History and Sociology of Science at the University
of Pennsylvania and a Fellow of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences. His books include American Genesis:
A Century of Invention and Technological Enthusiasm.
Currently a Distinguished Visiting Professor at MIT, he
lives in Philadelphia.
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