@dszuc

In the 1957 Spencer Tracy–Katharine Hepburn movie “Desk Set,” written by Phoebe and Henry Ephron and made with the coöperation of I.B.M., Tracy, an M.I.T. scientist who has invented an “electronic brain,” turns up with a tape measure in the research department on the twenty-eighth floor of the Federal Broadcasting Company building. Hepburn, the head of the department, invites him into her office. “I’m a methods engineer,” Tracy says to Hepburn, introducing himself. “Is that a sort of efficiency expert?” “Well, that term is a bit obsolete now.” “Oh, forgive me,” Hepburn says. “I’m so sorry. I’m the old-fashioned type.” Tracy has a giant computer installed in Hepburn’s department. Hepburn expects that her entire staff will be fired. Before demonstrating how the machine works, Tracy makes a speech to a group of corporate executives. “Gentlemen, the purpose of this machine of course is to free the worker—” (“You can say that again,” Hepburn mutters.) “—to free the worker from the routine and repetitive tasks and liberate his time for more important work.” Hepburn: “I think you could safely say that it will provide more leisure for more people.”