[Web4lib] Failed or transitory technologies, with an emphasis on libraries

[Gilman, Mark]

It could happen that Wikipedia proves transitory, sooner than we think,
if Google's just-announced "Knol" project catches fire.

http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2007/12/encouraging-people-to-contribute.
html

I realize that the purchase of Wikipedia is huge, but the Google
screenshots (all that's available at this writing, so far as I know)
show a high level of graphical polish and decent architecture.

Regards,
Mark Gilman
 
Municipal Reference Librarian 
Dallas Public Library
1515 Young St., 6th floor.
Dallas, TX 75201
214-670-1482
http://dallaslibrary.org


----------------
Date: Fri, 14 Dec 2007 12:02:31 -0700
From: Dan Lester <dan at riverofdata.com>
Subject: [Web4lib] Failed or transitory technologies,	with an emphasis
	on libraries
To: web4lib at webjunction.org, libnet at marmot.org,
	libref-l at listserv.kent.edu
Cc: "WORDS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU" <WORDS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Message-ID: <446880758.20071214120231 at riverofdata.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Hello web4lib friends,

I'm working on a presentation tentatively called something like "history
of library technology with an emphasis on the last 40 years".
It will probably include Powerpoint, just to show illustrations of the
some of the items and not to give an interminable outline or list.  :-)

I trust I'll come up with a better title, but hope you get the idea.

I'm looking for examples in three areas.

1 Failed technologies or products (lasted only a short time on the
market or in service)

2. Transitory technologies or products (lasted longer, but fairly
quickly superseded)

3. Lasting technologies or products

There isn't a clear distinction or boundary on any of the three, of
course, and we could argue where some of them go.  The examples don't
have to be library related, as I'll also want some that put the library
ones in historical context as well. If you have references to great
illustrations of any of them, that would be great too.

Some examples might be:

Failed
      Ultrafiche
      Videodiscs
      Quad stereo
      Apple Lisa
      Steam powered cars
      MC/ST and MC/ST typewriters
      Stand-alone word processors (Wang et al)

Transitory
      Cassette tapes
      Microprint/card (opaques)
      8mm filmloop cartridges
      Punched cards
      Gopher
      Fax machines
      Gas lights
      Apple ][ series
      Non-graphic displays on monitors
      Vacuum tubes in electronic devices
      Electric typewriters
      
Lasting (at least so far)
      Intergrated library systems
      WWW
      Ariel and similar document transmission
      iPod
      Librarians
      Solid state devices
      
My goal isn't to start a debate on which things go in which category
(though wouldn't object to that, but is probably too off topic).
Please send me suggestions to my personal email, though I'll also try to
harvest those sent to the list.

Something to think about when things slacken a bit with finals,
holidays, and so forth. Any help appreciated.

thanks, and happy holidays of whatever type you celebrate

--
Best regards,
 Dan                          mailto:dan at riverofdata.com