Michael Hart of Project Gutenberg, wrote a provocative answer to Willard’s question (Humanist Discussion Group, Vol. 21, No. 495) about the “killer-app” of digital humanities that I reproduce here verbatim:
True, you can’t convince the skeptics. . .you still can’t say that digitial music has wiped out analog music because a few places still make analog records which are really better, not that a true skeptic needs those last few words.
Even when there are more eBooks than paper books, no way.
Even when there are 100 times as many eBooks, not happening.
It’s not going to matter what they SAY about eBooks, reality is going in that direction and paper books will never reverse that trend, simply because you can /OWN/ MILLIONS OF eBOOKS IN A TERABYTE DRIVE [costing under $200].
Before Gutenberg the average person could own zero books.
Before Project Gutenberg an average person could own 0 libraries.
It’s literally as simple as that.
The cost/benefit ratio for eBooks is too much better than paper.
Thanks!!!
Is he right?
I found this an interesting item. I know someone else who is big on eBooks, though frankly, I don’t know many who are.
I’m a heavy Internet user, with multiple blogs, my own site, and having worked around tech for more than 2 decades. I eagerly use the tools at my disposal and marvel at how slow we are to responding to User Demand. In other words, I think we could have been light years ahead by now if the dollar didn’t have such a loud voice in the social conscious.
Again, cost/benefit ratio for eBooks is too much better than paper?
Benefit is what is immeasurable and will also be variable from individual to individual. Now we’re getting into values, some personal, some cultural, and so on. And if I cannot engage as effectively reading an eBook, where is the benefit gained?
Very interesting argument that is offered, though one that will fall apart – particularly in time. A point to support this is the simple idea that in a day of advanced communications, Morse Code, one of the oldest and most reliable methods of communication, will never go out of style. The reason?
Technology and much of what society takes for granted could easily disintegrate in a world-event either man or nature induced. eBooks won’t come on when the power is out. And traditional communication cannot penetrate atmospheric debris the way Morse Code does.
He’s right – for now – and for himself and others like him.