Ah, now I think I see what you're asking, Bob. Keep in mind, I'm
not saying this is the best solution, only that it seems worth considering.
Just one quick aside:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Russell
As I understand it, here are the two choices being discussed:
1) Encrypt the file and force the reader software to verify identity or authority to the content.
2) Use generic file types, but force the SD card hardware to be present in order to access it, AND only allow authorized reader software to access it (software that has been pre-approved by the body managing the protection scheme) so that copies can't be made.
|
I didn't say
generic file types, I said a generally accepted and used file type. It doesn't even have to be human readable, and could include whatever extra it needed. That would eliminate the need for proprietary software, yet keep the key to the encryption safely unavailable for duplication ('cause it's the identity of the card the text is on). Your security dongle, if you like.

I like the word "dongle" -- it's fun to see the looks on people's faces when you say it.
I see what you're saying about carrying around a bunch of SD cards. Maybe there's a middle ground. What if you could copy the whole file off the SD card onto your reader (which had no output method, aside from the display)? Then you could put whatever texts you were planning to read onto your reader and leave the SD cards back at home. You'd only need it to load the text. That would open them up to you passing the SD card along before you read it, but you could only read it until you deleted it, and then you'd have to have the card back to read it again. Hmm. Pubs wouldn't like that either, I don't think.
I think I'm just trying to keep the concept of a book as a discrete object, and trying to preserve the flexibility that it entails.
And that may not be possible, or even desirable.