neu auf dem Markt: BOOK (tm)

[Edlef Stabenau <stabenau _at__ tu-harburg.d400.de>]

Hallo Liste,

eigentlich wollte ich mich ja beim forwarden etwas zurueckhalten, 
aber denText finde ich recht gelungen, und so zum Wochenende...
Schoenen Gruss
Edlef
____________schnipp_______________________________

Sender:       Libraries & Librarians
Poster:       Harlan John
<harlan_john _at__ MSMAIL.MUOHIO.EDU>
Subject:      FW: humor
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For your amusement ...


 A new aid to rapid--almost magical--learning has made its appearance.
Indications are that if it catches on all the electronic gadgets will 
be so much junk.

The new device is known as Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge.  The
makers generally call it by its initials,  BOOK(tm).

 Many advantages are claimed over the old-style learning and teaching 
aids on which most people are brought up nowadays. It has no wires, no 
electric circuit to break down. No connection is needed to an 
electricity power point. It is made entirely without mechanical parts 
to go wrong or need replacement.

Anyone can use  BOOK(tm), even children, and it fits comfortably into
the  hands. It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair by the fire.

 How does this revoluntionary, unbelievably easy invention work?

Basically  BOOK(tm) consists only of a large number of paper sheets.
These may run to hundreds where  BOOK(tm) covers a lengthy program of
information. Each sheet bears a number in sequence, so that the sheets
cannot be used  in the wrong order.

 To make it even easier for the user to keep the sheets in the proper
order they are held firmly in place by a special locking device called a
"binding".

 Each sheet of paper presents the user with an information sequence in
the form of symbols, which he absorbs optically for automatic registration
on the brain. When one sheet has been assimilated a flick of the
finger turns it over and further information is found on the other
side.  By using both sides of each sheet in this way a great economy
is  effected, thus reducing both the size and cost of  BOOK(tm). No
buttons need  to be pressed to move from one sheet to another, to open
or close  BOOK(tm),  or to start it working.

  BOOK(tm) may be taken up at any time and used by merely opening it.
Instantly it is ready for use. Nothing has to be connected up or 
switched on. The user may turn at will to any sheet, going backwards
or  forwards as he pleases. A sheet is provided near the beginnning as
a  location finder for any required information sequence.

 A small accessory, available at trifling extra cost, is the 
BOOK(tm)mark. This enables the user to pick up his programme where he left off on
the previous learning session.  BOOK(tm)mark is versatile and may be
used in any BOOK(tm).

 The initial cost varies with the size and subject matter. Already a 
vast range of  BOOK(tm)s is available, covering every conceivable subject 
and adjusted to different levels of aptitude. One  BOOK(tm), small
enough to  be held in the hands, may contain an entire learning
schedule.

 Once purchased,  BOOK(tm) requires no further upkeep cost; no
batteries or wires are needed, since the motive power, thanks to an ingenious
device patented by the makers, is supplied by the brain of the user.

  BOOK(tm)s may be stored on handy shelves and for ease of reference
the program schedule is normally indicated on the back of the binding.

 Altogether the Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge seems to have  great
advantages with no drawbacks. We predict a big future for it.


 A Boss's response:

 BOOK(tm)* does not, in spite of the claims, seem "to have great
advantages with no drawbacks".  Soon, it probably won't even be legal.  Consider:

 "It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair by the fire." 
 Being paper, it might burn in the fire.  Probably fire laws in most 
locations wouldn't allow its use there.  Worse, such a device, which 
encourages close proximity of the user to fire, will be outlawed by 
OSHA's request.

 "Each sheet bears a number in sequence, so that the sheets cannot be 
used in the wrong order."  How quaint; to think that the programmer  (author)
would be allowed to turn over such an important task to the  user! 
"cannot" is clearly misuse; any user could incorrectly turn to the 
wrong page.  A proper user interface might correct that, of course,
such  as requiring that each sheet be torn off to expose the next. 
This is a clear conflict with "The user may turn at will to any sheet,
going  backwards or forwards as he pleases."

 " BOOK(tm)s may be stored on handy shelves and for ease of
 reference".  The user interface obviously needs more work 
before such a system can be practical.

 "the motive power -- is supplied by the brain of the user".  Clearly,
the inventors have not examined recent trends.  No serious person would 
suggest even expecting a "user" to have a brain present, much less to 
use it so continuously.

 I'd suggest the inventors return to their consoles and do a thorough
associative search of various data banks, like the rest of us, and
forget this nonsense.