Man, Machines and Tomorrow

First Published in 1973, Man, Machines and Tomorrow investigates the ways in which technologists themselves can solve the problems which the technological society has brought upon itself. Professor Thring is hopeful for the future of mankind. In this book he is concerned to establish the possibility of a real machine served utopia in which all men and women are free to find their self-fulfillment to the limit of their possibilities. The year 2000 was proposed as a crucial date, when overpopulation and limited resources will force society to rethink its very foundations. Professor Thring suggests creation of a ‘Creative Society’ and demonstrates the ways in which engineers would be able to apply technology in the service of that society. He describes the machines-in communications, medicine, education, food production-that could be invented and argues that it is the engineer who must devise these machines to be the slaves of mankind, in order to give a maximum quality of life to every individual. In the current world where we are grappling with questions of climate change, pandemic, ethical use of AI and machine learning, this book is an important historical reference to understand the larger questions about the future of technology and mankind.

M. W. Thring