Arguments that count : physics, computing, and missile defense, 1949-2012 / Rebecca Slayton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Slayton, Rebecca, 1974-

Series:

Inside technology

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

National security--United States--History--20th century.

National security.

National security--United States--History--21st century.

Ballistic missile defenses--United States--History.

Ballistic missile defenses.

Physicists--Political activity--United States--History.

Physicists.

Computer scientists--Political activity--United States--History.

Computer scientists.

Physics--Political aspects--United States--History.

Physics.

Computer science--Political aspects--United States--History.

Computer science.

Technological complexity--Political aspects--United States--History.

Technological complexity.

Software engineering--Political aspects--United States--History.

Software engineering.

United States--Military policy.

United States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (338 p.)

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, [2013]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"In a rapidly changing world, we rely upon experts to assess the promise and risks of new technology. But how do these experts make sense of a highly uncertain future? In Arguments that Count, Rebecca Slayton offers an important new perspective. Drawing on new historical documents and interviews as well as perspectives in science and technology studies, she provides an original account of how scientists came to terms with the unprecedented threat of nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). She compares how two different professional communities -- physicists and computer scientists -- constructed arguments about the risks of missile defense, and how these arguments changed over time. Slayton shows that our understanding of technological risks is shaped by disciplinary repertoires -- the codified knowledge and mathematical rules that experts use to frame new challenges. And, significantly, a new repertoire can bring long-neglected risks into clear view.In the 1950s, scientists recognized that high-speed computers would be needed to cope with the unprecedented speed of ICBMs. But the nation's elite science advisors had no way to analyze the risks of computers so used physics to assess what they could: radar and missile performance. Only decades later, after establishing computing as a science, were advisors able to analyze authoritatively the risks associated with complex software -- most notably, the risk of a catastrophic failure. As we continue to confront new threats, including that of cyber attack, Slayton offers valuable insight into how different kinds of expertise can limit or expand our capacity to address novel technological risks."

Contents:

Software and the Race against Surprise Attack

Framing an "Appallingly Complex" System

Complexity and the "Art or Evolving Science" of Software

"No Technological Solution"

What Crisis? Software in the "Safeguard" Debate

The Politics of Complex Technology

The Political Economy of Software Engineering

Nature and Technology in the Star Wars Debate

Conclusion: Complexity Unbound

Unpublished Sources and Notations.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

OCLC-licensed vendor bibliographic record.

ISBN:

0-262-31654-4

0-262-31653-6

OCLC:

856929636