Bicycle of the Mind

From Weekly I/O#60


Humans are tool builders. We build tools like computers as the "Bicycle of the Mind" that take us beyond our inherent abilities.

Video: 'A Bicycle of the Mind' - Steve Jobs on the Computer

In a 1990 interview, Steve Jobs recalled reading an article when he was 12 that measured the efficiency of locomotion of various species on Earth. How many kilocalories did they expend to get from point A to point B? The Condor was the most efficient, while humans ranked only about a third down the list.

However, somebody there had the imagination to test the efficiency of a human riding a bicycle. When a human rode a bike, they were more efficient than a Condor, all the way off the top of the list. This article made a lasting impression on Steve Jobs, as it highlighted how humans create tools to amplify their abilities. Humans are tool builders. We build tools like computers as the "bicycle of our mind" that can take humans far beyond their inherent abilities.


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