Contemporary perceptions on computers reveal a lot about undercurrents of late twentieth century thinking about space, the built environment, design, knowledge and power. Much of the discourse on computers, particularly about the impact of the information superhighway, parades itself as progressive and yet betrays an incredible conservatism, harking back to Enlightenment concepts of progress and freedom. Richard Coyne explores some of the discourses on computers and their links with contemporary philosophical ideas. Richard Coyne is Professor of Architectural Computing at the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of several books including Designing Information Technology in the Postmodern Age: From Method to Metaphor.