Moon Machines

The video “Moon Machines: The Navigation Computer” exemplifies how the evolution of technology is crucial to understand the world and the universe. In this case, a lot of people had to work to develop a system that was being able to navigate to the moon without the manipulation of a person. I consider that the development of technology can have a double face; it can help the people or even destroy them. In the video one can see how the lives of the people do not have to be put in risk to go to space and make some investigations. On the other hand, the same technology could be used to pilot an airplane and attack civilians in a war.

One of the main concerns in technology is the fact of size. Experts try year by year to increase the performance and reduce the size of hardware trying to make it more practical for the people. In spite the hardware may had been ready for the launch of the spacecraft, it was not complete without the instructions to control it: the software. It took hours of work and hundreds of people to create what would be one of the most impressive software developments by the MIT. Certainly, one of the key points that make the Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) to be successful was the team work and the communication between the members.

If the man was able to get to the moon during the 60’s it is hard to imagine what is the current situation and ambitions of the man regarding the technological advances.