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A growing fascination with the intricate lives of everyday machines—from servo motors to embedded sensors—is prompting a re-evaluation of our relationship with the technology that increasingly governs modern life. This exploration delves into the “secret lives” of these often-overlooked components, suggesting a nascent form of collective intelligence woven into the fabric of our world.
The source material evokes a sense of wonder, comparing the inspiration drawn from these machines to the cultural significance of folklore – “As fairies for the Irish or leeks for Welsh.” This analogy highlights a desire to find meaning and even a kind of spirit within the mechanical.
The Mystic Functionaries of Modern Life
The core of this emerging perspective centers on the idea that these aren’t simply tools, but “mystic hidden functionaries” that actively “make our made world live.” The description is richly detailed, focusing on the physicality of these devices: servo motors with their “couplers” and “eccentric fire-filled sensors” encased in “bakelite with brass screws.” This tactile imagery emphasizes their tangible presence, even as their functions remain largely unseen.
These machines aren’t static; they are constantly observing and responding. They “stare with red eyes,” “gauge moisture,” and “notice tiny motions,” exhibiting a rudimentary form of perception. Their operation isn’t silent either. The author hears a chorus of mechanical sounds – “yelps, thumps, throbs, hum, chant” – likened to the fading songs of “older folk singers.” This auditory dimension imbues them with a history and a sense of evolving complexity.
A Collective Intelligence Emerges
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this perspective is the notion of a collective consciousness. The machines are often described as waiting, “concealing the surprise of their purpose, tasks not yet known.” Their “true natures” are revealed not in isolation, but in “connections.” This suggests a network of interconnected devices operating as “parts of one mind, not mine.”
This “blunt orchestra of information” is characterized as “bundles of feelers reaching out to touch us, teach us, guide us.” The machines are not presented as benevolent or malevolent, but as neutral forces capable of both creation and destruction. They “keep us alive,” but also possess the capacity to not, won’t, couldn’t and cannot.
The Dual Nature of Technological Integration
The text highlights the pervasive integration of these machines into our lives, noting their presence “embedded in our clothes, those in our ears, those in our hearts.” This intimate connection is further explored through a series of contrasting metaphors. They are like “birds” and “parrots,” completing our words, but also like “fish” that “entrap.” They “free” and “flap in fierce winds,” yet also “replace what we have lost.”
This duality extends to their influence on our decision-making. They “tempt” and “repel,” “buy and sell,” and ultimately “show what we hold dear.” The author acknowledges their potential for both positive and negative impact, emphasizing the need for careful consideration.
A Plea for Kindness in a Mechanical World
The piece concludes with a call for mindful engagement with this emerging technological landscape. It urges us to allow their “sounds, chimes, [and] silence” to “calm us,” and for their “tender tendrils” to “touch what we seek.” The final image – “Small parts becoming one being intertwined, a world in itself” – reinforces the idea of a complex, interconnected system deserving of respect and understanding. The ultimate message is a simple yet profound one: “remind us to be kind.”
