All,
Here is a fascinating video (advertisement) about what Corning Glass
claims may happen in the near future.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=6Cf7IL_eZ38&vq=medium
Aside from the obvious Orwellian overtones, and the equally obvious
class considerations (how rich/poor will you have to be to enter such a
world?), this possible future is absolutely amazing. If we accept the
possibility of this type of future, it is only logical to consider: how
would libraries fit in? I have to confess the electronic book the fellow
is reading looks absolutely great! That one I would buy right now! Some
world such as this appears to be coming towards us sooner or later,
whether we like it or not, ready-or-not.
Anyway, in such a world, this video clearly demonstrates the importance
of "information" and "search", but we don't witness anybody having
problems finding just the right dress, just the right video, just the
right directions, just the right book, or just the right photo. We don't
see anyone get fed-up with lousy search results and throw their
expensive piece of glass on the ground to jump up and down on it. The
only reason I can figure out why it is so easy for them, is that the
searching has already been done, as I mentioned in my podcast on search
(http://catalogingmatters.blogspot.com/2010/12/cataloging-matters-podcast-no-7-search.html):
so, the woman walks into the store and the selection for her clothes has
already been made based on her previous selections, the selections of
people similar to her, and so on. The selection of the videos is based
on their previous choices, correlated with the choices of similar
people. The correct directions are based on all kinds of information
coming from everywhere.
Why would someone need a library for information in such a world? So
that when a person finds an article or ebook or movie, etc. through some
kind of variant on the above search, it is the library that will pay the
publishers and other copyright holders? Of course, that reduces
libraries to a mere budget line--something that can be changed very
easily and quickly with the stroke of a pen. On the other hand, why
would someone physically go to a library? As an idyllic escape?
Finally, there is no indication of why the man is reading an older
edition (seems to be 1st edition) of Well's "The Time Machine" or how he
found it in the first place. It occurred to me that it's because he has
spent all of his money on the glass and can only afford public domain books!
--
James Weinheimer weinheimer.jim.l_at_gmail.com
First Thus: http://catalogingmatters.blogspot.com/
Cooperative Cataloging Rules: http://sites.google.com/site/opencatalogingrules/
Received on Mon Aug 15 2011 - 06:19:10 EDT