B.O.O.K.

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B.O.O.K.


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.



Here's the supervisor'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.


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