[10132] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Internet Letter story on Encyclopedia
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dave Hughes)
Tue Feb 8 15:55:53 1994
From: dave@oldcolo.com (Dave Hughes)
To: com-priv@psi.com (compriv)
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 1994 13:35:41 -0700 (MST)
> Jayne Levin reports:
> 004) Encyclopedia Britannica to Go On-line in '94
>
> The company has "no plans for distribution beyond the academic
>community at this time," Esposito said. As for access by individual
>Internet users, Esposito said, "Our research suggests that a very large
>proportion of Internet users do in fact have university affiliations, so
>I'm not sure if this is a major roadblock [for individuals]."
Boy, is Esposito out to lunch on this one. The inability of
individuals NOT affiliated with 'universities' being unable to
access the online EB is a short sighted, stupid decision which just
angers me in its myopia, or hidden 'other' economic agenda,
whichever. Is Esposito dissembling on that observation, or does he
really believe it?
*MY* research (15 years online NONE of which has been as part of a
formal academic institution) indicates that EVERYONE in the US is
going to become a life-long 'learner, teacher' using personal
digital and communications tools in which their 'institutional'
educational affiliation, K-12 or college level, will be but periodic
episodes. I didn't know the Encyclopedia Britannica sees itself as
'only' an academic reference book, or that 'only' academicians are
going to use the Internet. Already for cripes sake, the *proportion*
of academics - students, teachers, researchers - relative to the
non-academic public is *declining* on the Internet. Its not even
50% now, is it?
So he goes into a long song and dance as to whether 'print' will
survive. Sure it will. But hell, the REAL question he ought to be
asking himself, is whether formal schools, colleges and universities
will survive! Given the escalating cost to taxpayers for the
'public' ones, their ever more questionable ability to educate
people better than people can educate themselves using the new
digital tools, and ability to communicate informally, with the
brightest minds and experts on the planet, it is those Costly
Castles of Learning that I would not want to bet my company's future
on.
So I will continue to use Grolier's Online Enclyopaedia accessible
by anyone locally in Colorado Springs by dial up modem or walking
into a public library, or anyone on the Internet through the Carl
System, *provided* they have a Penrose Public Library Card (whose
number they must enter to gain access to the encylcopaedia - which
insures that those who pay the Library's taxes, which pay Grolier
use fees, are the public beneficiaries of the 'free' access.
I would prefer Britannica, but no way will I go get phonily
'affiliated' with the University of Colorado just to have access to
EB, NOR will I buy my THIRD set of books from EB in paper or CD
form, just so I can look something up maybe once a month for the
years until it is obsolete again.
Jane, did *any* of this get discussed with Esposito when you did
your story? And does he have an Internet e-mail address, or is THAT
the problem?
Dave Hughes
