peace train
The difference between a virtual infrastructure and one that is real is crucial to connecting communities and mediating world peace. While airline networks over-fly the planet, only steel rail links can promote economic interdependence and a disincentive to war. Consider the
vision of a planetary rail system.
Our own
Larry Raid, Linotype machinist, has worked for 34 years with author Craig Burroughs to bring about this modest proposal. Larry’s forthcoming publcation; “The Future of High-Speed Railroading in Southeast Iowa, the USA and the World” will be printed from Linotype composition. Larry calls it “hard copy”.
bound to be free
“The print-on-demand business is gradually moving toward the center of the marketplace. What began as a way for publishers to reduce their inventory and stop wasting paper is becoming a tool for anyone who needs a bound documet. Short-run presses can turn out books economically in small quantities or singly, and new software simplifies the process of designing a book.” Peter Wayner, NYT, July 20th.
The electrostatic copier engine is the invisible infrastructure at work here. Now many generations from its introduction, the high-speed copiers are the new cylinder presses. They prove again that all paper books are born digital.
mission mis-statement
“The Institute for the Future of the Book is developing the tools and philosophy that will guide the form and function of books as they evolve from a print-based format to a digital format.”
Actually, print was digitized in this country in the 1970ís when composition keystrokes were converted from physical cams to code.
For the mission statement to be coherent, the
USC Annenberg Center really needs to say that its Future of the Book Project will ìguide the form and function of books as they evolve from print-based to screen-based format.î But, they would not want to say that because there is no future for “screen-based books”.
So I went to the mission statement of the Institute for the Future of the book. It evokes pathways to transition as well, but the organization must look away from any view ahead for the ìage of printî. It must also look away from a coming post-digital era when digital delivery and network communication will provide no meaningful distinction. The book at its best awaits more opened projection.