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␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u1


␈↓ α∧␈↓1979 (revised 1983 July)

␈↓ α∧␈↓α␈↓ αITOWARDS A NATIONALLY AVAILABLE COMPLETE ELECTRONIC LIBRARY

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTFor␈α⊃some␈α∩time␈α⊃it␈α⊃has␈α∩been␈α⊃cost-effective␈α⊃to␈α∩put␈α⊃the␈α⊃entire␈α∩Library␈α⊃of␈α⊃Congress␈α∩into␈α⊃a
␈↓ α∧␈↓computer␈α⊂file␈α⊂and␈α⊂make␈α⊂all␈α⊂its␈α⊂resources␈α⊃available␈α⊂to␈α⊂anyone␈α⊂in␈α⊂the␈α⊂country␈α⊂with␈α⊃a␈α⊂computer
␈↓ α∧␈↓terminal.␈α
 There␈α
is␈α
no␈αneed␈α
to␈α
argue␈α
that␈αall␈α
printed␈α
paper␈α
will␈αbe␈α
abolished,␈α
but␈α
I␈αwould␈α
certainly
␈↓ α∧␈↓get␈α∂rid␈α∂of␈α∞ninety␈α∂percent␈α∂of␈α∂my␈α∞books␈α∂and␈α∂magazines␈α∞if␈α∂I␈α∂could␈α∂access␈α∞it␈α∂from␈α∂my␈α∂terminal␈α∞at
␈↓ α∧␈↓home.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTA␈α∞recent␈α∞proposal␈α∞to␈α∞a␈α∞Stanford␈α∞University␈α∞research␈α∞group␈α∞offered␈α∞a␈α∞1.2␈α∞gigabyte␈α
storage
␈↓ α∧␈↓module␈αfor␈α$24,000.␈α If␈αwe␈αcount␈αa␈αbook␈αas␈α500,000␈αbytes,␈αthen␈αthis␈αmodule␈αcan␈αstore␈α2400␈αbooks.
␈↓ α∧␈↓The␈α
space␈α
occupied␈α∞by␈α
the␈α
module␈α
would␈α∞store␈α
about␈α
300␈α
books␈α∞on␈α
shelves.␈α
 The␈α
cost␈α∞comes␈α
to
␈↓ α∧␈↓$10␈αper␈αbook.␈α Recent␈αwork␈αinformation␈αcompression␈αwould␈αgive␈αanother␈αfactor␈αof␈αfour␈αin␈αstorage
␈↓ α∧␈↓density,␈αreducing␈α
the␈αcost␈α
to␈α$2.50␈α
per␈αbook␈α
and␈αreducing␈α
the␈αstorage␈α
volume␈αto␈αone␈α
twenty-fourth
␈↓ α∧␈↓of that required to store books on shelves.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTBooks␈α
cost␈α
much␈α
more␈α
these␈α
days␈α
and␈α
so␈α
does␈α
the␈α
space␈α
required␈α
to␈α
store␈α
them,␈α
although␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓cost of cataloging the books is apparently larger than either.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTStill␈α
more␈α
recently␈α∞IBM␈α
(3380)␈α
announced␈α∞disk␈α
files␈α
storing␈α∞2.52␈α
gigabytes␈α
per␈α∞unit␈α
which
␈↓ α∧␈↓would␈α⊂store␈α⊂20,000␈α⊃compressed␈α⊂books␈α⊂in␈α⊂the␈α⊃space␈α⊂taken␈α⊂by␈α⊂300␈α⊃on␈α⊂shelves.␈α⊂ The␈α⊃Library␈α⊂of
␈↓ α∧␈↓Congress would then require between 1000 and 2000 such disk units.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTDigital␈αvideodisks␈αstoring␈αmuch␈αmore␈αare␈αpredicted␈αfor␈αthe␈αreasonably␈αnear␈αfuture,␈αbut␈αthe
␈↓ α∧␈↓project is practical with technology now in hand.  I think it is time to begin.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTConsider␈α
the␈α
following␈αsystem.␈α
 In␈α
addition␈αto␈α
existing␈α
paper␈αlibraries,␈α
there␈α
would␈αexist␈α
one
␈↓ α∧␈↓or␈α∃more␈α∃computerized␈α∀libraries␈α∃containing␈α∃everything␈α∀that␈α∃has␈α∃ever␈α∀been␈α∃published,␈α∃i.e.␈α∀a
␈↓ α∧␈↓computerized␈α⊃version␈α⊃of␈α⊃the␈α⊂Library␈α⊃of␈α⊃Congress.␈α⊃ This␈α⊂library␈α⊃would␈α⊃be␈α⊃accessible␈α⊃over␈α⊂the
␈↓ α∧␈↓telephone␈α
network␈α∞from␈α
any␈α
computer␈α∞terminal␈α
in␈α∞the␈α
country.␈α
 A␈α∞reader␈α
could␈α∞browse␈α
through
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈α⊂library␈α⊂catalog␈α⊂and␈α⊂various␈α⊂bibliographies␈α∂just␈α⊂as␈α⊂though␈α⊂he␈α⊂were␈α⊂physically␈α⊂present.␈α∂ He
␈↓ α∧␈↓could␈α∞read␈α∞any␈α∂book␈α∞by␈α∞calling␈α∞it␈α∂page␈α∞by␈α∞page␈α∂onto␈α∞his␈α∞terminal's␈α∞screen␈α∂or␈α∞he␈α∞could␈α∂have␈α∞it
␈↓ α∧␈↓transmitted␈α
to␈α
a␈α
local␈α
printer.␈α
 At␈α
present,␈α
the␈α
Canon␈α
company␈α
is␈α
beginning␈α
to␈α
market␈α∞a␈α
printer
␈↓ α∧␈↓that␈α
can␈α
print␈α
arbitrary␈α
fonts␈αfor␈α
less␈α
than␈α
$10,000,␈α
but␈αwe␈α
can␈α
envisage␈α
cheaper␈α
printers␈α
in␈αthe
␈↓ α∧␈↓future.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTMost␈α∂office␈α∂workers␈α∂would␈α∂have␈α∂terminals␈α∂on␈α∂their␈α∂desks,␈α∂and␈α∂many␈α∂people␈α⊂would␈α∂have
␈↓ α∧␈↓them␈α
at␈α
home.␈α At␈α
present␈α
a␈αgood␈α
enough␈α
terminal␈αcosts␈α
about␈α
$800,␈αand␈α
high␈α
quality␈αterminals
␈↓ α∧␈↓should␈α
cost␈α
about␈α∞$2,000␈α
if␈α
manufactured␈α∞in␈α
moderate␈α
quantity.␈α
 Any␈α∞office␈α
would␈α
have␈α∞a␈α
high
␈↓ α∧␈↓quality printer.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTOf␈α⊃course,␈α⊂yet␈α⊃better␈α⊃terminals␈α⊂may␈α⊃eventually␈α⊂be␈α⊃available.␈α⊃ We␈α⊂can␈α⊃imagine␈α⊃a␈α⊂pocket
␈↓ α∧␈↓terminal␈α
consisting␈αof␈α
a␈αrolled␈α
up␈α
plastic␈αscreen␈α
with␈αa␈α
1024␈α
by␈α1024␈α
array␈αof␈α
liquid␈α
crystal␈αdots
␈↓ α∧␈↓accompanied␈α∩by␈α∪another␈α∩rolled␈α∪up␈α∩pressure␈α∩sensitive␈α∪keyboard␈α∩and␈α∪a␈α∩pocket␈α∪computer␈α∩with
␈↓ α∧␈↓enough␈α∂memory␈α∂to␈α⊂store␈α∂a␈α∂book.␈α⊂ Suppose␈α∂that␈α∂it␈α∂has␈α⊂a␈α∂modular␈α∂jack␈α⊂that␈α∂can␈α∂plug␈α⊂into␈α∂any
␈↓ α∧␈↓telephone␈α⊂so␈α⊂that␈α⊂the␈α⊂user␈α⊂can␈α∂call␈α⊂the␈α⊂library,␈α⊂scan␈α⊂it␈α⊂for␈α∂a␈α⊂while␈α⊂and␈α⊂then␈α⊂reload␈α⊂his␈α∂book
␈↓ α∧␈↓memory.␈α This␈αwould␈αbe␈αnicer␈αthan␈αthe␈αtechnology␈αnow␈αavailable,␈αbut␈αthe␈αavailable␈αtechnology␈αis
␈↓ α∧␈↓good enough to justify a start.
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u2


␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTFrom the user's point of view, the advantages of the computerized library are the following:

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT1. All books, magazines and newspapers are available.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT2. Anything can be obtained in a few seconds.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT3. Nothing is ever out.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT4. The library is open 24 hours a day 365.2425 days a year.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTMany␈αpaper␈αlibraries␈αwould␈αbe␈αfound␈αunnecessary.␈α In␈αparticular,␈αuniversity␈αlibraries␈αcould
␈↓ α∧␈↓carry␈αout␈αtheir␈αfunctions␈α
with␈αmuch␈αless␈αmoney␈αand␈α
manpower,␈αsince␈αtheir␈αusers␈αwould␈α
switch␈αto
␈↓ α∧␈↓the electronic library for much of their work.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTThe␈αestablishment␈αof␈α
such␈αa␈αsystem␈α
involves␈αmany␈αproblems␈αand␈α
will␈αtake␈αsome␈α
years,␈αbut
␈↓ α∧␈↓we␈αwill␈αmention␈αsome␈αfacilities␈αthat␈αcan␈αand␈αshould␈αbe␈αstarted␈αright␈αaway.␈α Moreover,␈αpeople␈αwho
␈↓ α∧␈↓don't␈α
have␈αterminals␈α
at␈αhome␈α
now␈α
or␈αon␈α
their␈αdesks␈α
or␈αdon't␈α
use␈α
them␈αat␈α
all␈αmay␈α
be␈α
difficult␈αto
␈↓ α∧␈↓convince of the advantages of such a library.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTHere are some of the problems:

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT1.␈αIt␈αis␈αexpensive␈αto␈αconvert␈αthe␈αbooks␈αto␈αcomputer␈αreadable␈αform.␈α Equipment␈α
for␈αreading
␈↓ α∧␈↓special␈αtype␈αfonts␈αis␈αavailable␈αand␈αreliable.␈α The␈αrecent␈αKurzweil␈αequipment␈αreads␈αarbitrary␈αfonts
␈↓ α∧␈↓with␈α
training␈α∞but␈α
is␈α
reported␈α∞to␈α
rely␈α
to␈α∞a␈α
substantial␈α
degree␈α∞on␈α
a␈α
blind␈α∞person's␈α
ability␈α∞to␈α
know
␈↓ α∧␈↓when␈α∂something␈α∂was␈α∂garbled␈α⊂and␈α∂try␈α∂again␈α∂and␈α∂on␈α⊂his␈α∂ability␈α∂to␈α∂understand␈α⊂imperfectly␈α∂read
␈↓ α∧␈↓material.␈α
 The␈α
lowest␈α
error␈α
rates␈α
are␈α
apparently␈α
those␈α
obtained␈α
by␈α
the␈α
Information␈α
International
␈↓ α∧␈↓Grafix␈α∩I␈α∩system.␈α⊃ This␈α∩machine␈α∩is␈α⊃very␈α∩expensive,␈α∩mainly␈α⊃because␈α∩it␈α∩uses␈α∩obsolete␈α⊃computer
␈↓ α∧␈↓hardware,␈αbut␈αthe␈αcompany␈αwould␈αupdate␈αit␈αif␈αthe␈αmarket␈αexisted.␈α Even␈αif␈αmuch␈αof␈αthe␈αmaterial
␈↓ α∧␈↓had to be retyped by hand, the project would be worth what it would cost.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTOf␈αcourse,␈αmuch␈αnew␈αmaterial␈αis␈αgenerated␈αin␈αcomputer-readable␈αform,␈αbut␈αmany␈αforms␈αare
␈↓ α∧␈↓used, and as yet no-one has developed a system for putting all this material into a common form.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT2.␈α
The␈α
copyright␈α
law␈α
requires␈α∞permission␈α
to␈α
put␈α
copyrighted␈α
material␈α
into␈α∞computer␈α
form.
␈↓ α∧␈↓In␈α⊃my␈α⊃opinion,␈α⊃copyrights␈α⊃should␈α⊃be␈α⊃respected␈α⊃and␈α⊃suitable␈α⊃financial␈α⊃arrangements␈α∩based␈α⊃on
␈↓ α∧␈↓readership␈α∂should␈α∂be␈α∂negotiated.␈α∞ Once␈α∂a␈α∂computerized␈α∂library␈α∂exists,␈α∞it␈α∂will␈α∂be␈α∂so␈α∂much␈α∞more
␈↓ α∧␈↓accessible␈α⊃than␈α⊃other␈α⊃libraries␈α⊃that␈α⊃authors␈α⊃and␈α⊃publishers␈α⊃will␈α⊃find␈α⊃it␈α⊃to␈α⊃their␈α⊃advantage␈α⊂to
␈↓ α∧␈↓negotiate suitable deals.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT3.␈α∂The␈α∞best␈α∂arrangement␈α∞might␈α∂be␈α∂that␈α∞the␈α∂copyright␈α∞owner␈α∂could␈α∞set␈α∂whatever␈α∂price␈α∞he
␈↓ α∧␈↓pleased for reading his material.  The reader could decide whether or not to pay it.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT4.␈α∂There␈α∂is␈α∂a␈α∞problem␈α∂of␈α∂unauthorized␈α∂copying.␈α∞ The␈α∂problem␈α∂exists␈α∂whether␈α∂a␈α∞national
␈↓ α∧␈↓library␈α
exists␈α
or␈α
not,␈α
and␈α
the␈α
temptations␈αwill␈α
increase␈α
as␈α
copying␈α
machines␈α
get␈α
more␈αconvenient
␈↓ α∧␈↓and␈α
cheaper␈αand␈α
when␈α
a␈αgeneral␈α
purpose␈α
machine␈αfor␈α
reading␈α
documents␈αfrom␈α
paper␈αto␈α
computer
␈↓ α∧␈↓files becomes available.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT5.␈α
At␈α∞present␈α
an␈α∞author␈α
gets␈α∞ten␈α
to␈α∞twenty␈α
percent␈α∞of␈α
the␈α∞retail␈α
price␈α∞of␈α
his␈α∞books,␈α
except
␈↓ α∧␈↓that␈α∩he␈α∩gets␈α∩nothing␈α∩for␈α∩unsold␈α∩books␈α∩and␈α∩less␈α∩for␈α∩mass␈α∩market␈α∩paperbacks.␈α∩ An␈α⊃electronic
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u3


␈↓ α∧␈↓publishing␈αsystem␈αcould␈αafford␈αto␈αgive␈αthe␈αauthor␈αeighty␈αpercent␈αof␈αthe␈αprice␈αpaid␈αby␈αthe␈αreaders,
␈↓ α∧␈↓because␈αthere␈αwould␈α
be␈αno␈αphysical␈α
production␈αor␈αdistribution␈α
costs.␈α This␈αwould␈αpermit␈α
increased
␈↓ α∧␈↓income␈αfor␈α
authors␈αand␈αreduced␈α
prices␈αfor␈αthe␈α
readers.␈α Presumably␈αthere␈α
is␈αsome␈α
price␈αelasticity
␈↓ α∧␈↓for␈αreading␈αthat␈αwould␈αproduce␈αmore␈αreading␈αwith␈αreduced␈αprices␈αand␈αgreater␈αconvenience.␈α This
␈↓ α∧␈↓would␈α∃greatly␈α∃reduce␈α∃the␈α∃temptation␈α∃to␈α∃copy␈α∀illegally,␈α∃since␈α∃the␈α∃reader␈α∃would␈α∃find␈α∃it␈α∀less
␈↓ α∧␈↓burdensome to pay the writer his due.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αT6.␈α∂I␈α∂think␈α⊂it␈α∂likely␈α∂that␈α⊂the␈α∂amount␈α∂of␈α∂illegal␈α⊂copying␈α∂would␈α∂be␈α⊂low␈α∂enough␈α∂so␈α⊂that␈α∂the
␈↓ α∧␈↓system␈α
would␈α
survive.␈α
 If␈α
not␈αwe␈α
will␈α
eventually␈α
have␈α
to␈α
go␈αto␈α
a␈α
system␈α
where␈α
reading␈αis␈α
essentially
␈↓ α∧␈↓free␈α∞and␈α∞writers␈α∞are␈α∞paid␈α∞according␈α∞to␈α∂a␈α∞formula␈α∞by␈α∞the␈α∞Government.␈α∞ This␈α∞would␈α∂have␈α∞many
␈↓ α∧␈↓disadvantages,␈αsince␈αno␈αformula␈αcould␈αtake␈α
fully␈αinto␈αaccount␈αthe␈αfact␈αthat␈αdifferent␈α
writers␈αhave
␈↓ α∧␈↓different␈α
abilities␈αand␈α
put␈α
different␈αamounts␈α
of␈α
work␈αinto␈α
books␈α
of␈αdifferent␈α
kinds.␈α
 Of␈αcourse,␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓present␈αsystem␈αdoesn't␈αtake␈αthis␈α
into␈αaccount␈αvery␈αwell␈αeither,␈α
but␈αthere␈αare␈αsome␈αworks␈α
now␈αthat
␈↓ α∧␈↓charge␈αvery␈α
high␈αprices,␈α
i.e.␈α newsletters.␈α
 I␈αsuppose␈αthese␈α
could␈αstill␈α
operate␈αoutside␈α
the␈αstandard
␈↓ α∧␈↓system.

␈↓ α∧␈↓Getting Started

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTAlready␈α∩there␈α∪exist␈α∩numerous␈α∩databases␈α∪available␈α∩by␈α∩telephone␈α∪from␈α∩anywhere␈α∪in␈α∩the
␈↓ α∧␈↓country.␈α Some␈αof␈αthem␈αcontain␈αbibliographic␈αinformation,␈αi.e.␈αabstracts␈αand␈αreferences,␈αbut␈αothers
␈↓ α∧␈↓contain␈α
the␈α
texts␈α
of␈α
the␈αmaterial.␈α
 Some␈α
of␈α
them␈α
are␈αsubsidized␈α
by␈α
government␈α
grants,␈α
e.g.␈αmany␈α
of
␈↓ α∧␈↓the␈αmedical␈αdatabases,␈αand␈αothers,␈α
e.g.␈αthe␈αlegal␈αdatabases␈αand␈α
the␈α␈↓↓New␈αYork␈αTimes␈↓␈αDatabank,␈α
are
␈↓ α∧␈↓profit␈α
making␈α
businesses.␈α
 The␈α
charges␈α
for␈α
using␈α
them␈α
range␈α
from␈α
$25␈α
to␈α
$200␈α
per␈α
hour␈α
except␈α
for
␈↓ α∧␈↓subsidized customers.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTOne␈α⊃important␈α⊂step␈α⊃could␈α⊃be␈α⊂taken␈α⊃by␈α⊃the␈α⊂Federal␈α⊃Government.␈α⊃ It␈α⊂is␈α⊃required␈α⊃by␈α⊂the
␈↓ α∧␈↓Freedom␈αof␈αInformation␈αAct␈αand␈αother␈αlaws␈αto␈αmake␈αvery␈αlarge␈αamounts␈αof␈αinformation␈αavailable
␈↓ α∧␈↓to␈α⊂the␈α⊃public.␈α⊂ This␈α⊃information␈α⊂would␈α⊃be␈α⊂much␈α⊃more␈α⊂conveniently␈α⊃available␈α⊂if␈α⊃it␈α⊂were␈α⊃in␈α⊂a
␈↓ α∧␈↓database␈α
accessible␈α
from␈α∞anywhere␈α
in␈α
the␈α
country.␈α∞ This␈α
especially␈α
includes␈α
the␈α∞Federal␈α
Register
␈↓ α∧␈↓where␈α∪all␈α∪new␈α∪laws,␈α∩regulations,␈α∪announcements␈α∪of␈α∪hearings␈α∩and␈α∪requests␈α∪for␈α∪comments␈α∩are
␈↓ α∧␈↓published.

␈↓ α∧␈↓Technical problems

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWhile␈αit␈αis␈αeasy␈αto␈αcompute␈αthe␈αcosts␈αof␈αthe␈αstorage␈αmedia,␈αwhich␈αare␈αalready␈αcheaper␈αthan
␈↓ α∧␈↓paper,␈α
it␈α
is␈α
harder␈α
to␈αcalculate␈α
the␈α
costs␈α
of␈α
the␈αcomputers.␈α
 This␈α
is␈α
because␈α
present␈α
systems␈αhave
␈↓ α∧␈↓not␈α
really␈α
been␈α
optimized␈α
for␈α
handling␈α
very␈α
large␈αnumbers␈α
of␈α
users.␈α
 It␈α
will␈α
also␈α
be␈α
necessary␈αto
␈↓ α∧␈↓optimize telephone access.  For this there are many possibilities.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTA␈αdaytime␈αcross-country␈αcall␈α
costs␈α54␈αcents␈αfor␈α
one␈αminute.␈α In␈αa␈α
minute␈α36,000␈αbytes␈αcan␈α
be
␈↓ α∧␈↓transmitted␈α_at␈α_4800␈α_bits/second.␈α_ This␈α_means␈α→from␈α_$7.50␈α_to␈α_$15.00␈α_to␈α_transmit␈α→a␈α_book
␈↓ α∧␈↓uncompressed␈α
or␈α
from␈α
$1.87␈α
to␈α
$3.75␈α
with␈α∞a␈α
compression␈α
of␈α
4.␈α
 We␈α
can␈α
imagine␈α
a␈α∞terminal␈α
that
␈↓ α∧␈↓could␈α∩store␈α∩a␈α∩minute's␈α∩worth␈α∩of␈α∩text␈α∪and␈α∩could␈α∩decompress␈α∩it␈α∩for␈α∩reading.␈α∩ These␈α∪costs␈α∩are
␈↓ α∧␈↓unpleasantly␈α_high,␈α_but␈α_they␈α_can␈α_be␈α↔reduced␈α_in␈α_various␈α_ways.␈α_ First,␈α_technology␈α↔permits
␈↓ α∧␈↓substantially␈α∪lower␈α∪long␈α∪distance␈α∀transmission␈α∪costs.␈α∪ Indeed␈α∪the␈α∪one␈α∀minute␈α∪transcontinental
␈↓ α∧␈↓charge␈αlate␈αat␈αnight␈αis␈α16␈αcents␈αmaking␈α
our␈αcompressed␈αbook␈αcost␈αfrom␈α$.56␈αto␈α$1.12␈αif␈α
transmitted
␈↓ α∧␈↓all␈α
at␈α
once.␈α
 This␈α∞probably␈α
less␈α
than␈α
the␈α
cost␈α∞of␈α
a␈α
trip␈α
to␈α
a␈α∞library␈α
if␈α
one's␈α
time␈α
is␈α∞worth␈α
much.
␈↓ α∧␈↓The␈α∂independent␈α∂long␈α∞distance␈α∂telephone␈α∂companies␈α∞are␈α∂often␈α∂40␈α∞percent␈α∂below␈α∂AT&T,␈α∞which
␈↓ α∧␈↓brings␈α∂our␈α∂optimistic␈α∞number␈α∂down␈α∂to␈α∂33␈α∞cents,␈α∂which␈α∂is␈α∂reminiscent␈α∞of␈α∂the␈α∂days␈α∂when␈α∞pocket
␈↓ α∧␈↓books were a quarter.
␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ u4


␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTWe␈α∩can␈α∩suppose␈α∩that␈α∩the␈α∩terminal␈α∩could␈α∩remember␈α∩the␈α∩telephone␈α∩number␈α∩and␈α⊃catalog
␈↓ α∧␈↓number␈α
and␈α
automatically␈αphone␈α
for␈α
another␈αminute's␈α
transmission␈α
when␈α
the␈αreader␈α
is␈α
close␈αto␈α
the
␈↓ α∧␈↓end␈α
of␈αwhat␈α
it␈αhas␈α
in␈αstorage.␈α
 These␈αcosts␈α
are␈αeven␈α
less␈αattractive␈α
when␈αbrowsing␈α
is␈α
wanted.␈α A
␈↓ α∧␈↓solution␈αfor␈α
that␈αis␈α
to␈αuse␈α
the␈αEuropean␈α
telephone␈αcharging␈α
system␈αwhich␈α
allows␈αcalls␈α
as␈αshort␈αas␈α
a
␈↓ α∧␈↓4␈α∞seconds.␈α∞ Current␈α∞networks␈α
keep␈α∞the␈α∞cost␈α∞for␈α
maintaining␈α∞a␈α∞connection␈α∞down␈α∞by␈α
time-sharing
␈↓ α∧␈↓lines, but this doesn't reduce the cost of straight data transmission.

␈↓ α∧␈↓␈↓ αTAn␈α
obvious␈α
possible␈α
saving␈α∞is␈α
to␈α
have␈α
local␈α∞libraries␈α
with␈α
frequently␈α
consulted␈α∞books␈α
and
␈↓ α∧␈↓magazines.␈α∩ My␈α∪guess␈α∩is␈α∩that␈α∪with␈α∩optical␈α∩fibers␈α∪and␈α∩other␈α∩new␈α∪means␈α∩of␈α∪transmission,␈α∩the
␈↓ α∧␈↓transmission costs can be brought down to the point that local libraries will be unnecessary.