Journal - Week 1

Kusek & Leonard’s (2005) first two chapters discuss one vision for the future of consumption and sale of music for recreational purposes. It begins with a description of a typical day and then moves onto a discussion of how this vision is on its way to becoming reality. The second chapter has a discussion of the author’s Top 10 Truths about the music industry.

Several things struck me about the reading. First, I enjoyed the descriptive opening and liked how several of the predictions are already in place or seem very close to fruition. There is a significant problem with the vision, I think. I dislike the phrase ‘digital divide’ but I’ll use it for lack of a better phrase. In 2000, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Commerce, 51% of Americans had at least one computer at home. It is probably a slightly higher percentage today, with one website reporting 55% having one in 2003. That’s still a stark number of people not having one. Will these next generation devices described by Kusek & Leonard be more affordable, thereby allowing more people to have one? Will they be more akin to cell phones than home computers?

I disliked the use of the water analogy. It made sense, and I understood their point. But there has been much talk about the privatization of water, which I do not agree with. Water, which used to be something free or nearly free, is being replaced with bottled water, which takes an enormous amount of energy and water to produce. I’ve heard quoted that a bottle of water takes three times as much water to produce. For most places in the US, this has not caused a problem. We mostly still have access to clean water through our taps or can afford the bottled water. There are other places in the world, usually poorer or less developed, that cannot. Our insistence on an unnecessary product robs them of a necessity. So, my concern with the analogy is that the technology that is so enticing and will probably be available to most of the US and Western or affluent nations, will not be available to everyone and will take advantage of less prosperous areas.

Currently, most electronics have some form of hazardous materials within them that ends up polluting wherever they are disposed. And most electronic manufacturers do not offer consumers ways to safely dispose of them.

Now, I must backtrack a bit and say that I am an avid consumer of electronics and music. I have an iPod, 3 computers (only 2 that I use), a cell phone with an mp3 player, a walkman CD player, 2 stereos and…well, I think you understand. I love being able to play music anywhere in my house and in several different formats (yes, I still own and collect vinyl). But I am concerned with where what I see as the US’s consumer habits will take us.

And the last thing I noticed was how dated some of the first chapter’s references felt. There was no mention of MySpace, which has drastically changed how people hear about music and what music they listen to. And, no FaceBook. But, Friendster was mentioned, and it has been a long time since I’ve heard Friendster mentioned in any context without derision or as an historical example. I don’t want to fault the authors on this, however. It is not their fault that the print medium’s print cycle means that any such topical examples are almost certain to be outdated by the time of printing. Or possibly, they thought Friendster, being one of the first and popular social networking sites would be around regardless of what other sites were created. Anyway, it made me slightly nostalgic for those early 2000 years. Sigh.

Beginnings

I'm beginning this blog to archive my journal writings for the SJSU SLIS class, LIBR 220. It will mainly be a reflection on the readings for the class. And, after the class ends? Well, we'll see where it takes me.