On Wed, 13 Sep 2000 20:51:41 -0700
Spike Jones <spike66@ibm.net>,
responding to Samantha, writes:
(Samantha first)
>> If you know better I would very much like to know how to improve on
>> this. I've been wanting my library online for many years now. - samantha
(then spike)
>You and all of us. I have over a thousand titles, most of em
>hardback. Ideally I would like to ASCII all the text without
>destroying the books, if possible. Let me know if you find
>anything workable. {8-] spike
This has been an interest of mine now for several years. Its value as
consumer product is, I assert, obvious, and I would guess that Samantha,
spike, and I are only three of millions who would make use of it on the
instant it became available.
I therefore offer to join forces with anyone who would like to collaborate
in its development as a commercial project.
It could be a book holder and page turner that mounts/sets on a flatbed
scanner (the page turner and scanner would clearly be linked to the
computer which would coordinate the sequence of events), or a book holder
and page turner equipped with a mounting frame to accomodate a digital
camera (again, camera and page turner linked to the computer), or it could
be a single dedicated unit: one power cable, one data cable to the
computer, and a slot for placing the book (or, in the large industrial
model, a stack of books). I suggest that these three variants comprise the
beginnings of a product line.
The IP issues as I see them: it would be a product that fills a strongly
sought after, completely legitimate demand, but which enables an
"illegitimate" application. I'm completely convinced that, after
precedents set by the vcr, cassete recorders, xerox copiers, and the
already established fact of scanners and ocr, no legal challenge could be
successful, in fact I rather doubt such a challenge would even be mounted.
Actually, I gotta believe this in the works already, if not imminent.
Probably by the scanner people.
Somebody out there knows. Who can burst my bubble? Or, since I like the
idea so much and am waiting with cash in hand, cmon someone...
SHOW ME THE MAGIC!
Best, Jeff Davis
"Everything's hard till you know how to do it."
Ray Charles
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