Across the digital divide.

[seanan_mcguire]

Let's talk about poverty

Comments

[ktsparrow]

Interesting. I agree. But I think libraries in urban places are a safer bet for access to books than used book stores, though not true for rural and small towns. Even diminished, there's a lot of infrastructure and funding for libraries that makes it buffered against market capitalism in a way a small book store isn't. The other thing about 'print is dead' is, well, that's not how technologies often work. Sure, TV usurped radio in a huge way, but there's still radio. As long as there are places where ereaders are not easily accessible by all, and realistically, that's a lot of the world for a long time to come, then there will still be markets for print.

[seanan_mcguire]

I also think really urban areas are going to get to full internet accessibility a lot faster as the free wifi spreads. Right now, you may have to buy a cup of coffee. In five years, maybe not.

[ktsparrow]

Yep, for sure. Though my lens and what I know the most is West Coast and East Coast cities in the U.S.. Not sure how such things are playing elsewhere.

[dewline]

Library branches throughout Ottawa, Canada are doing this for their member/user base already. We also have a community-access wi-fi network slowly assembling itself.

[rhoda_rants]

At Panera, you don't even need to buy coffee--the signal's strong enough that it works in the parking lot.

(But don't tell them I said that.)

[adamheine]

I agree with this completely. I mean, I think this is a great article, because us "haves" definitely need to remember we're not the only ones that matter. But I think you're right, Katherine, that as long as there is a market, there will be a product.

I'm also thinking of Thailand (where I live) in which people still use technologies like fax machines, VCDs, and TV antennas. I guess part of being "haves" is we forget people still use all our hand-me-downs.

[seanan_mcguire]

Oh, I absolutely think that print books have a good long life ahead of them. I also think that, as the people who are in the "have" position, we should be considering the underlying social implications of shouting "print is dead" from every rooftop.

I have a fax machine! Sometimes it makes beeping noises and scares the cats.

[adamheine]

LOL! That's awesome. I don't think I've ever owned a fax machine in my life, but I've had to use one a few times out here.

I totally agree with you on the social implications. I hadn't thought of them before, and I'm glad you wrote this.

[spherissa]

i think it's more anaologous to beta is dead, video is dead, dvd, is dead, blu ray is dead before it's even started? in a clot of circles with people just torrenting shows (which is of course horrid for supporting that segment of the arts) -- and has an analogue with access to information -- eventually books will become rarer and more expensive and what then?