Talk at Xerox Palo Alto Research Center on June 5th

[Maia Pindar]

Xerox PARC Forum

Thursday, June 5, 1997
4:00-5:00 PM
George Pake Auditorium

The Knowledge Paradox

Ken Dowlin

Abstract:

Will books become facsimiles of digital communications? Will libraries digitize
their book collections? Will publishers stop killing trees?

Will the technologists develop the infrastructure and tools to use the Internet
as a system for the creation, organization and distribution of knowledge?

Alvin Toffler contended in 1980 that civilizations develop in waves: the first
wave was hunters and gatherers, the second wave one of industrialization, the
third wave one of an information-based society. I contend that the world has
moved into the fourth wave - communication. The purpose of the communication
industry is to communicate regardless of the value or relevancy of content. I
advocate that it is imperative that we move beyond the Communication Age to the
Knowledge Age.

Knowledge-based institutions such as libraries, universities, bookstores, and
publishers all rely on an infrastructure for the creation, organization,
distribution, and payment that developed over centuries. Can they adapt to the
new mode of communication?

The technology industry including computing, television, and telecommunication
providers is pushing a new way of communications, the new Internet/web world, a
world that is populist, global, real-time, and unfettered by political
constraints (although some governments try.) This new cultural phenomenon is
projected by some to involve 700 million people by the year 2000. There is not
only the pull by the industry and news media to hype the electronic consumer
products for sale, but also the push by the consumer and political leaders who
believe that the technology will not only entertain but also provide learning.
Can the industry live up to the promise held forth by the media and
politicians?

The paradox is how to move the knowledge based-institutions and businesses into
the technology of electronic communication, and at the same time to move the
communication industry to include knowledge in their systems.

The risk for the knowledge industry is that they will be struggling to retain
the support and use of the next generation which will be technologically
literate.

The risk for the communication industry is that the consumers will feel that
their products are not relevant to their needs and serve no social purpose.

Biography:

Ken Dowlin, a Library Director and early implementer of information and
communication technology in libraries over the last 35 years will present his
views on this paradox.

His quest is the eradication of ignorance, and his goal is the eradication of
media arrogance.

As City Librarian for San Francisco, Dowlin led the largest capital improvement
program for libraries in the history of San Francisco, leading to the opening
of the world class main library in April, 1996.

At the national level, Dowlin has held many positions in the American Library
Association, and he served on the Library of Congress Commission on the Future
of the Book. He is currently one of two candidates for the office of President
of the American Library Association.

Xerox PARC External Web address
http://www.parc.xerox.com/ops/projects/forum

There is a map to Xerox PARC at http://www.parc.xerox.com/images/maptoparc.gif

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This Forum is OPEN to the public.

Requests for videotapes for XEROX EMPLOYEES ONLY should be sent to Kim Edens
(edens at parc.xerox.com)

Refreshements will be served from 3:45 to 4:00

The George Pake Auditorium is located at 3333 Coyote Hill Road in Palo Alto.
PARC is located off of Page Mill Road (west of Foothill Expressway) and
Hillview Avenue, in the Stanford Industrial Park.  The easiest way to get here
is to turn from Page Mill Road onto Coyote Hill Road.  As you drive up Coyote
Hill past the horse pastures, you will see PARC on the left after you crest the
hill.  Park in the large parking lot and enter the auditorium at the upper
level of the building.  The auditorium is located down the stairs and to the
left of the main doors into the visitor's lobby.

Forthcoming Forums:

June 12: Milton Chang, Can an Entrepreneur Be Made?
June 19: Rob Enderle, The future of PDAs
June 26: Doug Terry, The Bayou project

Host and Forum Coordinator: Maia Pindar (pindar at parc.xerox.com), 415-812-4019