Final answer:
The original Panopticon was a design by Jeremy Bentham for a facility that allowed supervision of inmates by a single watchman, and it has influenced discussions on modern surveillance society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The original Panopticon was a theoretical design for a type of institutional building conceptualized by the English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham in the late 18th century. Its name is derived from the idea of omnipresent observation, as the structure was designed to allow a single watchman to observe all inmates of an institution without their knowing whether they are being watched or not. Although many mistakenly discuss Bentham in association with the Pantheon in Rome, his Panopticon was never actually built, but the concept heavily influenced later prison designs and the modern discussions surrounding surveillance societies.
Bentham outlined the Panopticon in his work 'Panopticon; or, The Inspection-House' published in 1791. The design was intended for any facility requiring supervision, such as a prison, hospital, or school. Bentham's concept was a circular building with an 'inspection house' at the center, from which the manager or staff could watch the inmates. The Panopticon scheme was intended to promote efficiency, economy, and control within social institutions.
To reflect the concept's influence in modern times, surveillance society is seriously studied within social sciences, often contrasting Bentham's ideas with the dystopian, pervasive surveillance described by George Orwell in '1984' and analyzed by philosopher Michel Foucault.