Microserfs Reading Response

5. Karla says, "computers will continue to be developed . . . an 'entity is going to be created that has its own intelligence." What is Karla saying about artificial intelligence (AI)? What are your perspectives on AI?
What Karla is saying about artificial intelligence is that one day, they will mimic the ability of humans to learn and understand. They discuss throughout the book the development of computers and often refer to old computer systems and how they quickly became outdated. They believe that the development of computers will continue to accelerate and will ultimately produce technology that would be unimaginable at the time. A major part of the book is Daniel asking what his computer would say if it could speak and expresses his views with the random wording at the beginning of each section. Throughout the book, the characters discuss humans as computers and vice versa, an example being the question of computers having feelings. With the statement, Karla is simply saying that humans will one day understand their own processes so will, they will be able to translation these processes for computers to utilize. My perspectives on AI are similar to Karla’s, believing that one day, an entity will be able to make deductions and inductions based on information from its surroundings. However, it will never be human-like in our ability to process information so readily and easily. Just as we are bound by the laws of biology and our capacities to calculate, memorize, etc., computers will be bound by the abilities to which humans allow them.

3. Why do you think Coupland's characters speak in computer jargon, and use technical expressions to describe their lives and environment? How does this compare to your experiences of the workplace and home? What effect does this way of speaking have on others?
The characters in Microserfs speak in computer jargon and describe almost everything in this way because it is all they know. Their whole lives are centered on computer coding and programming and they apply what they know of technology to their everyday. I think that not only does it make them more comfortable trying to make sense of a confusing, unknown world but also brings them closer together as they are all able to understand each other and relate to one another on that level. I think this is similar to my own experiences both at home and at the workplace, and is for anyone else at well. I believe that people tend to explain things or learn things in a way that maximizes their understanding and people do this by comparing new things to what they already know. It’s very common for men to compare everyday life to sports, which is something my friends and I do daily. For example, needing a great score on the final to pass a class, one may explain to someone else, “It’s late in the fourth quarter, and I have to find a way to win.” I think speaking like this helps friends understand each other and be comfortable, as I said previously. It is a way for the common interests of individuals in a group to be materialized and to bring them together.



9. Daniel Underwood has been described as a "anti-hero" who is a "dull nobody." In what ways is this statement true? Why has Coupland used this form of an anti-hero?
This statement is true because in a lot of ways, Daniel Underwood, the main character, does not have any true aspirations or even obstacles to overcome throughout the book. To be a true hero, one must defeat an obstacle or enemy for the betterment of themselves or their surroundings and Daniel is not involved with anything like this. Throughout the book, it seems as though while he may not be completely comfortable with his life, he doesn’t do much to change it for the better. He seems to be content with the fact that while things aren’t exactly fair, there isn’t too much he can do about it. I think this explains the “dull nobody” aspect of the phrase as well. The big transition in the book was when Daniel quit Microsoft in order to work with Michael and everyone else. Even after this, there isn’t much change or drama in his life. He stated in the book that he was happy simply because of the fact that his friends and himself were all together, working for a common goal. I think Coupland used this form of an anti-hero to bring more attention to the characters themselves rather than what they were going through. This book had some of the best-developed characters of the books I’ve read. Coupland may have also used this form of an anti-hero because of the fact that having a complete family is really all Dan wanted. Dan states in the book that he likes stories where he knows what the characters want right away. Coupland however, lets us know what Dan wanted with the last words of the book: hellojed.