I agree with the author that information age will change the way we look at book, movies, tv and any other type of media. Similarly the way the printing press changed the distribution of books, networked computers will forever change the way we access information. He makes lots of valid points and I like his comparison of the impact that networked computers will have on the world of technology as the printing press had on the world of technology during that time period. The invention of the printing press made libraries possible, but with networked computers it would be possible to have every book ever wrote posted on the internet in an online library. This sounds like a great idea to me because I would reap all the benefits with no loses. However for others such as publishing companies, authors and other entertainers the future seems bleak.
I was surprised at rate technology moved and is projected to move. I imagined telephones in every home for at least the last 50 years, and I’m surprised that computers are not in all homes already. I have clearly taken the blessing of technology for granted. I can’t imagine my life with out my phone or computer. Making current technology available to a wider range of people would be seems to be the intent for networked computer systems. Yet it is almost certain that the unintended consequences will dominate over the intended ones.
Book can be scanned at an alarming rate. This makes the possibility of a world wide online library even more realistic. The battle between Google and the publishing companies seems silly. If Google is sharing the revenue with them I don’t see the problem. I can understand the companies wanting to be paid for every book scanned, but if Google isn’t making money on it, why should they? I do understand their argument and concerns, but it just seems desperate and greedy to me. I’ll agree with the author on this one that this is an on going and possible never ending battle.
