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Wednesday, December 15, 2004 |
In Google we trust?. Dave Winer today points to Scott Rosenberg's excellent take on Google's new library venture. Scott concludes:
The public has a big interest in making sure that no one business has a chokehold on the flow of human knowledge. As long as Google's amazing project puts more knowledge in more hands and heads, who could object? But in this area, taking the long view is not just smart -- it's ethically essential. So as details of Google's project emerge, it will be important not just to rely on Google's assurances but to keep an eye out for public guarantees of access, freedom of expression and limits to censorship. [Scott Rosenberg]
I agree. That's one of the reasons, by the way, that the evolving relationship between electronic texts and physical books fascinates me so deeply. For the generation now coming of age, Google defines a sort of continental shelf. Whatever is on that shelf is considered accessible. Whatever isn't fades into the murky unfathomable depths. But when we can beam the halogen light into those depths and search them, we'll be reminded that -- whatever online access can or cannot be offered now, and however long it takes to make complex and sensitive adjustments to the copyright system -- the physical books exist, and are available for our use.
... [Jon's Radio]
9:15:54 PM 
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© Copyright 2005 Patrick Mikulak.
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