Re: Re: A "ebook reader" for anywhere, anytime

On Sun, 15 Nov 2009, fynydd_beirdd wrote:

> Well, instead of theorizing about what might happen, I asked 
> the people who make WikiReader (OpenMoko) about the possibility 
> of using their device as an ebook reader.
>
> Here is what they said to me in return (from email):
>
> "Right now we only support Wikipedia. Next on our roadmap is 
> multilingual support. It's going to be a while before we 
> venture outside of Wikis :-)

Ok.

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page

(and yes, it includes full text)

> "It would be possible but would require software development. 
> Our internal roadmap is focused on Wikipedia and adding more 
> language support. If you would like us to keep you posted, 
> please signup for our newsletter:
>
> " http://thewikireader.com/update.html "
>
> So, as tantalizing as it may look, it doesn't look feasible at 
> this point, and it doesn't look like OpenMoko are intending to 
> go in that direction any time in the near future.
>
> Of course, an open architecture means outsiders might do so.

With all the code and designs open for inspection it can get 
people thinking. I can see from searches and comments that the 
code (including the device code) is open source, and there is a 
simulator available, which means you can explore and develop 
ideas cheaply.

The project team is doing the right thing, because scopecreep is 
a killer. Their hardware design speaks strongly to them keeping a 
disciplined approach to their roadmap.  But because they are 
doing this all in a good way, they are leaving behind lots that 
can be leveraged.

And this isn't Amazon or Sony. As you note, we don't have to just 
ask the project team what they can do. Someone else, somewhere, 
may already have a plan underway to add or replace the software - 
or, at a minimum, to create, perhaps, a GutenWiki. Or - how about 
every morning my computer produces a Wiki of my email and web 
updates I would be interested in reading?

I did some more open searches, and I can see that although some 
people are wondering about software updates to the device, others 
are just installing a local wiki on their desktop, and seeing 
just what variety and volume of information they can pour into it 
and transfer across to the device.

This is why I was specific about saying that the *device* had the 
power to drive ebooks, rather than the project. The technology is 
sufficiently separate from the project to allow this.  I'd be 
happy to be corrected, but I have yet to see any other dedicated 
device we could say that about.

When Amazon sells you a Kindle, it can do exactly what Amazon 
decides it will do - no more, no less. But a device like the 
Wikireader not only does what it was sold for, but has the 
potential to do other things as people come up with them. If you 
decide to change what it does, you swap a card. If you don't like 
it, you swap it back. Amazon this is *not*.

The rapid growth of a disruptive technology often shares that 
feature - the lack of forced centralization, and permission to 
re-use for some other purpose. The VCR, the automobile, WiFi 
routers, the personal computer - they were tools, not solutions. 
As tools, they can be applied again and again, against whatever 
problem you see fit to target them.


: chris smith ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
: nihil tam munitum quod non expugnari pecunia possit - cicero :


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