Universal access to all human knowledge
I was at a presentation by Brewster Kahle, the co-founder of the Internet Archive a couple of years ago. I recall his claim that if all the books in the entire world were digitised, the files could be stored in space around the size of a commercial freezer. Their Million Book Project which, quite obviously, aims to scan a million titles and make them available online via the Internet Archive, is a large step in assembling such a digital library.
And now it looks like the mighty Google are about to sign an agreement with the Bibliotheque Nationale de France to allow Google to scan the library’s enormous catalogue of works and add them to the Google Books project. Whilst our Museums and Archives Service have digitised thousands of images and objects, these large projects involved digitising literally millions of pages.
Couple the ever improving technology with the availability of digital downloads and I believe we are rapidly moving towards a greater use of this medium. Even our Library Service is about to offer downloads of digital books.
The choice of e-book readers is getting larger, and the hardware is better and easier to use. There’s rumour of a new Apple ‘Tablet’ which will offer the touch screen e-book reader functionality in colour as well as a myriad of other computer functions which will move the goal-posts yet again.
I remember people saying’ why would I need a mobile phone’ or a ‘home computer’ and now there’s hardly anyone without them. I know there are a few of you who take perverse pride in not having either, so you don’t need to write in to tell me. So whilst there will be loads of you saying that you will only ever read books made of card and paper, there will be plently of others who will gradually migrate to e-books.
In the same way that we now use Google as the first stop search and research tool, and look at the results on screen rather than heading to the library and thumbing through Encyclopaedia Britannica, people will get used to using e-books and younger people will know no different.
So let’s look further ahead… in a world where there is universal wireless access, your device downloads only the page you are reading… as you metaphorically turn the page on the e-book reader, the new page instantly downloads… nothing is stored locally… any title from millions of books is available instantaneously… sounds good to me!
I love books and would rather be reading a good story than doing almost anything else. Yes, I love the way books look and feel and smell, but that doesn’t mean I am anti e-books. My main concern is the interface between human and technology. I know how using computers for the past ?? years has ruined my eyes. I’d need to know that portable e-books aren’t going to have the same effect. No point being able to access all the books in the world if you can’t read them!
I can see e-books being very useful for things like manuals, dictionaries and encyclopedias which need updating regularly and for people travelling who don’t want to carry a lot of books on holiday. Until they get the format settled I won’t be rushing out to buy one though.
Books have one huge advantage over this type of medium, they still work after you drop them in the bath!
Your look “further ahead” at the end of this post does sound wonderful but maybe a closer look at it is needed. You have universal access to all knowledge in theory but Google is actually in charge of it all – what you get to see and don’t – and has access to your personal details for marketing purposes and can also probably bombard you with advertising. Doesn’t sound quite so good now, does it? The Internet Archive have already voiced concerns: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8200624.stm
There’s so much potential in us not having to store files on our own hard drives and having shared spaces like you suggest – but where we may see potential for knowledge at our fingertips, a large number of corporations will see a way to take control and make money. I guess that’s capitalism for you – every dream can be sold!
Just seen that you can now download a children’s picture book to your iPhone or iPod Touch – don’t think it has the same ‘cuddle up’ appeal as a big book. How many parents will want their expensive technology covered in toddler stickyness?