Ch. 7 & 8

Chapter 7 talks mostly about the development of machines that did calculations for humans. First of all, there was the idea of miniaturization which made the process of making a calculation machine so difficult. Integrated circuits were first to be introduced because they are made miniaturization possible. IBM had their first breakthrough with transistors, instead of the old vacuum tubes. This was huge for the computer world and in making the items compact. Shortly after, solid circuits came about and from this point on, technology escalated. By now, people were able to increase the maximum number of circuits being used on one chip. Next, came the slide rules, followed by disposable electronic calculators, which brought about the first e-waste product with a microchip. As each new machine was invented, the previous models quickly became obsolete, creating huge amounts of waste. Finally, this chapter introduces high-powered calculators and the use of personal computers. With the development of computers, there were all sorts of new software programs that came about to help people calculate and organize their business finances. Overall, this chapter does a great job of describing the evolution of e-waste, starting from the very beginning.

In chapter 8, we are introduced to Gus Weiss who basically became America’s backbone for intelligence in the white house. Weiss was the one to decode and make claims about the Soviets intentions to steal technological advancements from the west but unfortunately no one believed him until it was nearly too late. When a group of Soviet’s came to America for tours of some of the largest and most advanced businesses, it was Weiss who noted it and kept track of their stops. Before long, others became aware of Weiss’s intelligence and put him in a power position within the white house. Later came the trouble with Vetrov, who was eventually charged with treason and ended up getting sent back to Moscow for trial. In the end, the idea of creating Siberian oil fields is still the project needed for Russian wealth.