Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Wed, 28 Jun 2000 12:33:44 +1200 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Not to mention the fact that most people would print out an online
version for ease of use - using more paper than the book itself........
>It seems that the original request is somehow evolving in a
>discussion about technology and internet. I do have some
>comments:
>
>First of all: shouldn't we also consider the environmental impact?
>Now that we (almost) have the technology, wouldn't it be great to
>reduce the use of resources by using for example the internet and
>only printing the parts we really need? Now, let's say this is an
>additional motivation to use computers instead of books (...as long
>as we don't print everything twice!). How much of this motivation
>would remain if we would start burning them on CD's also....(not to
>mention the people with a CD-writer at home that will probably take
>a backup of the disc.....).
Since we're off topic anyway...
Surely you don't think that it's more environmentally friendly to publish
things electronically compared to a paper copy?! A paper copy costs a few
trees, a bit of ink, and some oil for distribution, and a few computers here
and there. But electronically takes an entire electronic infrastructure that
must consume energy 24 hours a day, 365 days a year probably forever. Include
in that all the environmental damage caused by all the R&D and economy spent on
constantly upgrading computers (obsolete every 18 months) and I'd say the
environmental effects of a "paperless office" or "electronic publishing" are
orders of magnitude higher than a paper book which is never obsolete (you can
still read books that are several hundred years old). Besides, books you can
read when the power goes out, provided you have the sun or a candle. To read
an electronic book you need a monitor, CPU, internet connection
(infrastructure) and power!
Ok, I'm ready to return to my mass spec, which is showing higher than normal
readings of mass 29, if anyone has any ideas...
myq
--
Myq Larson / Stable Isotope Analysis \ [log in to unmask]
.'.'.'.'.' \ Utah State University / 435.713.4245 (h)
Knowledge / 5305 Old Main Hill \ 435.797.0060 (w)
Liberates \ Logan UT 84322-5305 / 435.797.1575 (f)
Myq's waste of bandwidth --> http://www.crosswinds.net/~myq
Cameron McDonald
Chemistry Department
University of Otago
Dunedin, NZ
[log in to unmask]
Ph: +64 (0)3 479-7915 (wk)
24 Pitt Street
Dunedin, NZ
Ph: +64 (0)3 474-0603 (hm)
"When life hands you lemons just grab a bottle of tequila and some salt"
|
|
|