The Global Electronic Library
A Global Electronic Library would combine all the available knowledge on the planet -- all books, periodicals, newsletters, journals, newspapers, web pages, spoken word, and more -- into a single, searchable resource available to everyone on the planet.
Presently, we are nowhere close to a Global Electronic Library. Astoundingly, with all the technology
available today, we still have no way to access printed books online (other than through limited
snippets thanks to Amazon.com). Desire for profitability and control of intellectual content coupled
with a lack of a micropayment infrastructure have resulted in most content publishers (magazines,
books, science journals, etc.) denying the public access to their content unless they buy their books
or pay for subscriptions. This arrangement excludes by default the poorer citizens of the planet
and, by doing so, encourages a cycle of global poverty by denying the poor access to educational
information that might improve their economic outlook. Making knowledge “open source,” as this
paper is, would offer an opportunity for more people to be more thoroughly educated about the world around them. It offers the promise of uplifting entire societies.
Planet Earth needs to pursue the construction of the modern-day equivalent of the Library of Alexandria (ultimately destroyed by Julius Caesar’s military campaigns around 47 B.C.). A freelyavailable online resource offering instant access to the vast majority of books, publications, and documents on the planet would be considered one of the great wonders of the world and would significantly uplift the intelligence and education of people everywhere. Unfortunately, no one is currently working on such a project.
Of course, the Global Electronic Library it would need to be available in many different languages, too, so that world citizens could view content regardless of their country of origin. Most of all, the Global Electronic Library must be coupled with an advanced search technology so people can find the information they want.
Amazing technology