topologies
"To a future textual scholar looking back on these early electronic texts, the dominant theme is likely to be variation and experimentation. Our electronic incunabula are distinguished by their eclecticism in every area: the type of markup used, the kind of software required, the method of distribution employed, the structure and architecture of the text, and the kind of editorial approach used. It is possible that, over time, a more limited range of standard varieties may emerge, as happened with the manuscript codex and the printed book. But this seems unlikely. Eclecticism is inherent in the electronic format and is likely to persist for some considerable time." Toby Burrows, Perth, 1997.
"In a curious way, the universal library becomes one very, very, very large single text: the world's only book." Kevin Kelly, 2006.
decision grip
Attentive consideration of non-verbal expression and haptic communication is in the
dictionary of gesture. This is the homepage for an ergonomic of comprehesion exemplified by navigation of the codex.
"we unwittingly grasp the item in a decision grip--which maximizes contact between the item itself and the sensitive tactile pads--as if it were already a personal possession or a belonging."
a library of books instead of songs
Comparisons of digital presentation of music are sometimes used to project trends in the digital presentation of books. The better comparisons would be between listening and reading...in both engagements. The song we hear as a narration of ourselves is equivalent to the book we grasp as another narration of ourselves. Both conceptual actions move us on.
A following question is how live music listening can differ from recorded listening, and how print reading can differ from screen reading. A music video can add visual dimension and the screen image can add page turn navigation. Virtual or nefarious....as narrations of ourselves?
ready for prime time
Mobility and Function has taken on its narrative shape and the Linotype compositors at FotB have moved on to new copy.
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