Social Aspects of Pattern Recognition

Abstract

Like all other research, pattern recognition is inexorably guided by the pressures of human society; no research worker can, for long, ignore the social implications of his work. Neither should he expect to abdicate his responsibility in speaking plainly of the dangers of his discoveries getting into the hands of evil people. The first industrial revolution brought many benefits and many miseries to the human race. The second industrial revolution is upon us and pattern recognition is a major part of it. The lessons of the first revolution should enable us to avoid the same mistakes during the second. [J. Rose has developed this theme at length in a recent book (Rose, 1974).]The purpose of the present chapter is to pose some of the questions which must concern all of us if we are to avoid horrors similar to those foreseen in Orwell’s 1984.