Project Cybersyn
Project Cybersyn was a Chilean attempt at real-time computer-controlled planned economy in the years 1970–1973 (during the government of president Salvador Allende). It was essentially a network of telex machines that linked factories with a single computer center in Santiago, which controlled them using principles of cybernetics. The principal architect of the system was British operations research scientist Stafford Beer.
History
In early 1970, Stafford Beer was asked by the newly elected president Salvador Allende to design this system. It took about a year to build; although it was never completely finished.
The system was most useful in October 1972, when about 50,000 striking truck drivers blocked streets of Santiago; using telex machines, the government was able to coordinate the transport of food into the city by about 200 trucks still loyal to government.
After the military coup on September 11th, 1973, the control center was destroyed immediately.
The system
There were 500 unused telex machines bought by the previous government, each was put into one factory. In the control center in Santiago, each day data coming from each factory (several numbers, such as raw material input, production output and number of absentees) were put into a computer, which made short-term predictions and necessary adjustments. There were four levels of control (firm, branch, sector, total), with algedonic feedback (if lower level of control didn't remedy a problem in a certain interval, the higher level was notified). The results were discussed in the operations room and the top-level plan was made.
The software for Cybersyn was called Cyberstrider, and it used Bayesian filtration and Bayesian control. It was written by Chilean engineers in consultation with a team of 12 British programmers. [1]
The futuristic operations room was designed by a Team lead by the interface designer Gui Bonsiepe. It was furnished with 7 swivel chairs (considered the best for creativity) with buttons, which controlled several large screens that could project the data, and other panels with status information.
The project is described in some detail in Beer's book, Platform for Change (including such social innovations as bringing representatives of diverse 'stakeholder' groups into the control center).
