There is no doubt that the large computer systems can effectively handle information as data. But the development of even the most sophisticated information retrieval systems has not enhanced our fundamental understanding of the nature of information. In fact, I would argue that the development of automated systems has inhibited this fundamental understanding. The demands of the computer, and the computer industry, have reduced much of our fundamental scientific effort to very sophisticated paper pushing. If, as I believe, the nature of human information processing is fundamentally different from machine information processing, then the development of digital computer systems becomes an obstacle to the understanding of information and its use.