As a pioneer of ubiquitous computing, computer scientist Mark Weiser's vision of embedding technology in everyday objects may resonate with our current reality. His influential 1991 Scientific American article, "The Computer for the 21st Century," was recommended by tech leaders like Bill Gates and circulated among Silicon Valley insiders. Weiser's approach was shaped by the philosophies of Michael Polanyi and Martin Heidegger, as well as collaborations with anthropologists and artists. He aimed for "tacit computing," seeking to move away from attention-grabbing screens that dominate our interaction with technology. While contemporaries like Nicholas Negroponte promoted smart agents and wearable tech, Weiser envisioned computers as tools akin to a white cane for those with low vision—enhancing navigation rather than extracting data for profit. He believed technology should empower users, allowing them to develop expertise without being overwhelmed. In this biography, digital studies scholar John Tinnell explores Weiser's life and ideas, revealing how he might have reacted to today's tech landscape. Drawing from extensive archival research and interviews with Weiser's family and colleagues, the book presents a new history of contemporary technology and a vision of what it could have been.
