The future of bookshelves

[teh603]

Originally Posted by taustin

Does the "developing world" still rely on hand copied manuscripts by monks in monasteries? Or does the "developing world" have mass printed books just like the "developed world"? No, the technology isn't there yet, but it's clearly headed that way. Cell phones are ubiquitious everywhere these days, even some very undeveloped parts of the world, becaus the technology is there, and it is now superior to old land-line technology - there's a lot less infrastructure to build.

To make a pbook, all you need is a printing press, a road, and some way to transport your books around while you're trying to sell them. That isn't much in the way of infrastructure. Ebooks need servers, reliable access to electricity and either wifi hotspots or cell phone towers, and whatever technology is needed to make the reader and compile the ebook. Huge difference in infrastructure.

Its also not like there's much profit to be made in setting up solar panel farms outside poor African villages, regardless of how much better their standard of living might be. The Almighty Dollar has replaced the god that once drove the concept of White Man's Burden, and I'm not always sure it was for the better.

[taustin]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

I'm in Sweden so that would be a geographical challenge. But at least I now have some facts, should he start to breg too much about his expensive cables.

It should be trivial to set up a test of your own. Just find somebody he doesn't know you know, and go from there. i'll help if you can act well, to convince him that you've "seen the light," after hearing this "new technology."

[taustin]

Originally Posted by teh603

To make a pbook, all you need is a printing press, a road, and some way to transport your books around while you're trying to sell them. That isn't much in the way of infrastructure.

Roads are a bit of a challenge in some parts of the world.

But, again, you need that for every book. You only need it once for the reader with ebooks, which makes it practical to overcome bigger obstacles.

Originally Posted by teh603

Ebooks need servers, reliable access to electricity and either wifi hotspots or cell phone towers, and whatever technology is needed to make the reader and compile the ebook. Huge difference in infrastructure.

With paper books, you need roads, at the least, and a store front of some kind, local to the customer. With ebooks, somebody needs all that, somewhere. All that you need locally is the delivery pipe, and more of the world has cell phone service these days than has roads and clean water.

Originally Posted by teh603

Its also not like there's much profit to be made in setting up solar panel farms outside poor African villages, regardless of how much better their standard of living might be. The Almighty Dollar has replaced the god that once drove the concept of White Man's Burden, and I'm not always sure it was for the better.

Completely different subject.

[DustyDisks]

The furniture makers could start a "Retro" line of shelf's. Make up some kits of cinder blocks and a variety of 1" x 12" and 2" x 12" wood Mixes. They could also make up a line of designer bricks as an variety option.

[QuantumIguana]

In areas that don't have roads, they have cell phones because they can't get land lines. Paper books don't require electricity. They don't require expensive e-readers. Paper books are easy to share, and can be had very cheaply. People in areas without roads aren't going to be buying a lot of books, whether in paper or in e-book format. Once you get the paper books there, no technology is needed, beyond a pair of eyes and knowing how to read.