"I see the player piano as the grandfather of the computer, the ancestor of the entire nightmare we live in, the birth of the binary world where there is no option other than yes or no and where there is no refuge"

William Gaddis's quote draws an intriguing parallel between the player piano and the modern computer system, recommending that the gamer piano is a precursor to the double stars that dominate contemporary life. A gamer piano runs by using perforated rolls which determine musical notes in a binary style: a perforation shows a note is to be played (yes), and the absence of a perforation indicates silence (no). This binary logic, Gaddis argues, is the structure upon which computing systems are developed. He suggests that the stiff binary structure of computing, mirroring the player piano's operation, has triggered a world identified by dichotomies and restricted choices.

The referral to the "nightmare we live in" suggests that the author views our modern-day, technically driven society as uncomfortable or troublesome. Gaddis might be critiquing how the binary reasoning of computer systems infiltrates wider aspects of life, causing simplified, reductive ways of thinking where complex, nuanced realities are pushed into binary options. This shows concerns over how innovation affects social structures and specific lives, frequently producing an environment where there seems to be no escape from a digital, algorithm-driven existence.

Furthermore, Gaddis's usage of the term "binary world" suggests an absence of flexibility and liberty, underscoring a deterministic view of technology's effect on society where the elaborate spectrum of human experience is lowered to mere ones and absolutely nos. His reference of "no refuge" recommends an entrapment, implying that this digital change is so pervasive there may be no escape or alternative.

Ultimately, Gaddis's quote invites contemplation about the repercussions of technological improvements, prompting society to consider how these innovations, stemming from the apparently benign gamer piano, shape human experience and modify social norms. His words evoke a cautionary stance on the implications of living in a world significantly governed by computational binaries.