[Web4lib] Wikipedia WAS: Failed or transitory technologies

[K.G. Schneider]

Hmmm... Wikipedia has a huge content base. I wonder if Google will fork
it to get things going. 

K.G. Schneider

On Sun, 16 Dec 2007 17:03:55 -0600, "Gilman, Mark"
<mark.gilman at dallaslibrary.org> said:
> By "the purchase of Wikipedia" I mean the hold it has on people's
> attention, not that someone purchased it.  Sorry for the ambiguity. 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gilman, Mark 
> Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2007 5:03 PM
> To: 'web4lib at webjunction.org'
> Subject: Failed or transitory technologies, with an emphasis on
> libraries
> 
> 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 quickly superseded)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
> 
> 
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