Open content information is placed on a public domain where anyone with an internet connection can access it. Open content has some effect on any of us who access information over the internet. Most of us access writings, research, entertainment mediums, movies, and music through open content forums. It is important to consider that when information is copyrighted. It cannot be accessed, or edited by anyone other than the copyright owner without permission, payment. However, as discussed in the What are the Licenses Within Creative Commons Article, there are organizations such as Creative Commons that allows owners of copyright to place them in a public domain (or common area) to allow other people to build, improve, and reuse their works.
As explained in the What is Public Domain? writing, public domain allows copyright owners to essentially give their works to a public domain. This allows others to view, alter, and change these works. While, this seems overall to be a positive idea; it could also make the claim of an original work to be blurred. For example, if someone posts something in a public domain, someone else can take the work, alter it, and submit it as their own.
In the 2010 Horizon Report, the emergence of E-Books is discussed. Not only are these books being used by people to read their favorite books at home, but now, they are making their way to college campuses. In addition to this, there are several companies (Amazon, Sony, Barnes and Noble, etc.) now offering E-Book platforms. However, as referenced in the 2010 Horizon Report, they’re still obstacles to get past. The biggest being that there is still some limited availability of textbooks on electronic format. Although, it seems that this will be less of a problem as more books become available in the electronic format.
As we continue to evolve as a society that utilizes technology, I think e-readers will eventually become the primary mode for the use of textbooks in the classroom. This will effect education as people will be able to download their textbooks remotely, not have to visit the book store, and hopefully the price of these books will lower once companies no longer have to pay for the high cost of production. However, students will no longer have a hard copy of their book to hold, read, highlight in, etc.
Hi Matthew!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the concept and convenience of the e-reader, but the use of it makes me ponder about what will happen to those good "old-fashioned" experiences. For example, I remember walking or riding the bus to the library and enjoying walking down the rows and rows of books searching for whatever caught my atention. I can still remember not only the smell of the library, but the different textures of the books. I even remember doing this in the university's Carlson Library recently.
I love the convenience of the e-reader and it fascinates me that we would carry around our entire college years textbooks on one gadget and not even have to worry about hernias! LOL! But with the gain of the e-reader, are we losing simple, basic experiences? What will become of bookstores and libraries? What will become of the basic human contact that we experience. For example, comparing books with a librarian or seeing the friendly cashier at the bookstore. I am absolutely on board with the e-reader and understand that it will be necessary in order for educational institutions to incorporate it into the curriculum in order to prepare students to compete locally, nationally, and globally. But, I just do not want the basic human experience to be lost, while we are trying to gain in our technological pursuits.
As far as open content, Creative Commons, and such, this is also a marvelous idea because copyright issues have a way of becoming messy. I think that this is a perfect way for like minds to connect and build upon concepts. It is always important to give credit where credit is due in order to avoid plaigarism and other "evils."
As usual, I enjoyed reading your posts and concur with the points that you raised. Nice jobe, Matt!