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Viewdata and the information society
512
Book Reviews
as a three legged stool with the legs labeled
“Marketing professionalism,” “Financial strength,“and “Technical excellence”). Sixteen chapters deal with topics such as hardware, software, service bureaus, and networks. Chapters usually begin with a very brief overview of the field followed by financial analysis of the major firms in that field. The title seems to imply that the information within will be valid or at least useful through 1989. In terms of market projections and specific stock recommendations that is unlikely to be the case. As an example, the author devotes ten pages to the breakup of AT&T but carefully hedges his analysis by saying “Because several key issues have not yet been resolved . no one as yet can give a definitive answer” and “We caution readers to recognize the tenuous nature of these estimates, which reflect only our personal interpretation without any guidance from AT&T.” Certainly, by the mid 1980s many of the companies warmly recommended here will have been absorbed (e.g. Kurzweil) or will have lost their dominant position. Financial information of this kind is simpiy too ephemeral for hard covers. We might, of course, choose to ignore the financial aspects of the book and view it as a broad summary of the computer industry. The difficulty here is that the breadth of coverage necessarily results in superficial treatment of many topics likely to be of interest to readers of this journal. Qube rates two sentences, direct broadcast satellites are allotted three paragraphs, electronic mail is scarcely mentioned, and information utilities are treated quite briefly in the chapter on “Home Information Systems”. In addition, several chapters deal exclusively with financial matters while other chapters treat topics such as electronic funds transfer and computer aided design and manufacturing. EFT and CAD/CAM are important topics but possibly of limited interest to readers who concern themselves with the manipulation of language. In short, the reader seeking an overview of recent developments in the computer industry will be better served by trade journais such as Datamation.
Viewdata and the Information Society. JAMB MARTIN, Prentice-Hall, (1982) viii + 293 pp. $29.95 ISBN o-13-941906-3.
Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey
Pushbutton Fantasies: Critical Perspectives on Videotex and Information Technology. Mosco, ABLEX, Norwood, New Jersey (1982), ISBN O-89391-125-9, xi + 195 pp.
VINCENT
Even to people jaded by a long procession of technoIogica1 tools and toys, viewdata (or “videotex”) is captivating. It can usher theoretically limitless info~ation into home or workplace via a telephone, special television receiver (or conventional set with adaptor), and keying device. Material created and updated by Information Providers (“IPs”) is entered and stored in a central computer and, when requested by a viewdata patron, insinuated into that wasted portion of the standard television signal known as the Vertical Blanking Interval. Prophesiers charmed by the apparent promise of viewdata for the U.S.-where 98% of families own both television and telephone-have envisioned an entire populace enlightened by instantly accessible, ever-current news, financial, weather, sports, medical, travel, household, entertainment, sales and emergency information-and enabled to make better decisions and perform many tasks more efficiently. Without leaving the TV set, these prophets believe, a viewer may soon conduct research, jobhunt, send and receive messages, comparison-shop, place orders and reservations, pay bills, take courses, register opinions with pollsters, even vote . . . and hundreds more uses can be (and have been) imagined. The elderly, infant-burdened, sick, handicapped, and agoraphobic would participate more fully in commercial and social life, while normally active people would draw closer to home and hearth, perhaps even performing their jobs by gluing themselves to the tube, keypad in hand. Paper would become an anachronism . . . These are what Mosco calls “pushbutton fantasies”. Both he and Martin think this utopia of convenience unfeasible, though their perspectives differ sharply. Martin, for 19 years an IBM man, is now an independent lecturer/author/consultant. His book, a sort of primer on viewdata, is presented in attractive, readable format and embellished with color photos of actual viewdata screens. In clear lay language, he explains the technology, and, rather superficially, the history, problems, opportunities, and likely impact, of viewdata. Principal obstacles to its acceptance include its basic unsuitability for satisfying certain information needs; relatively
Book Reviews
573
poor graphic capabilities; a per-use charging system likely to encounter patron resistance; its disruption of established habits and rituals; its domination of the household phone and TV; and the competition of personal computers, cable television, and, especially, of cheap, portable, foldable, browsable, markable, lovable print-on-paper. Martin anticipates that viewdata will at most complement traditional information sources. It may present some competition to local newspapers (especially for the classified-ad dollar), but will generally offer paper-based publishing little threat. A peculiar final chapter describes reactions of consumer groups introduced experimentally to viewdata, and records brief out-of-context quotes. Though the consumers’ overall responses was positive, they raised some major concerns that Martin himself deals with only glancingly, but which are crucial to Mosco’s thoughtful Marxian analysis. Among these are the problem of safeguarding privacy in an interactive, computerized system; the potential for atomization of individuals and households, and increased depersonalization of society; the question of whether it is possible or desirable for the viewdata system to exert editorial control over IPs; likely bombardment of viewers by commercials masked as unbiased information (labelled by Mosco “informercials”); encouragement and ease of overspending; and a reduction in the number of jobs. Mosco warns that unless the government commits itself to viewdata regulation and funding, it will become just another profit-driven, debased mass medium, as vast and barren a “wasteland” as network television. Like Martin, Mosco is excited about viewdata’s possible benefits (for Mosco: the empowerment of individuals and fostering of social change), but his deep pessimism contrasts with Martin’s guarded optimism. The authors agree that, here as in Britain (which boasts the developed Prestel system), businesses will be the most hospitable market, and commercial information the predominant type offered. Once a sci-fi fantasy, viewdata is now an actuality perhaps on its way to becoming an office essential and household habit. Careful thinking about its most productive uses and potential effects should precede aggressive development. These books offer large helpings of food for such thought. Graduate Library School University of Chicago
Microcomputers RORVIG, White c-9 14236-67-9
MARY BIGGS
and Libraries: A Guide to Technology, Products and Afifilicantions. MARK E. Plains, N.Y.: Knowledge Industry Publ. 1981 iii + 135pp $27.50 (Pb), ISBN:
Microcomputers and Libraries: A Guide to Technology, Products and Applications is the first book to address in any depth the issues of microcomputers in libraries. Clearly the content of the book is oriented to librarians who need some background on microcomputers; it is not intended for technical people who need background on libraries. However, beyond that, the book’s orientation is unclear. Moreover, there is neither a preface nor cover description to offer any direction. The chapters of the book can be divided fairly easily into two categories. The first are those that primarily emphasize microcomputers, their technology, and capabilities. Topics in this section include microcomputer history, terminology, hardware, selection of microcomputers, comparison of microcomputers, and additional resources for microcomputers knowledge and information. Almost without exception, these chapters are similar to any introductory general interest microcomputer book currently available. Mr. Rorvig has done reasonably well in presenting the facts. However, he does make some questionable statements. As an example, in his section on CRT features, Mr. Rorvig discusses such attributes as number of rows and columns. While it is true that specific machines display different row/column combinations, it is not a function of the CRT. Rather it’s a function of the machine itself. Additionally, Mr. Rorvig’s presentation of information is extremely brief and condensed. This approach will most likely prevent the novice from digesting its contents. I found the content to be almost reference in nature-fact after fact with few examples. The second grouping of chapters are those that particularly emphasize libraries and library applications. Only two chapters in the book fall into this grouping, the first of which describes particular software application packages. These include Golden Retriever, Apple II “Loan”, and OL’SAM. The list is by no means complete, but the sampling provides a general overview of what is available. The list, unfortunately, only skims over general purpose software such as work processing, accounts payable, receivables, and file storage/retrieval and database systems. My experience has indicated that many packages in these areas are quite useful to librarians in an “as is” form.
Book Reviews
as a three legged stool with the legs labeled
“Marketing professionalism,” “Financial strength,“and “Technical excellence”). Sixteen chapters deal with topics such as hardware, software, service bureaus, and networks. Chapters usually begin with a very brief overview of the field followed by financial analysis of the major firms in that field. The title seems to imply that the information within will be valid or at least useful through 1989. In terms of market projections and specific stock recommendations that is unlikely to be the case. As an example, the author devotes ten pages to the breakup of AT&T but carefully hedges his analysis by saying “Because several key issues have not yet been resolved . no one as yet can give a definitive answer” and “We caution readers to recognize the tenuous nature of these estimates, which reflect only our personal interpretation without any guidance from AT&T.” Certainly, by the mid 1980s many of the companies warmly recommended here will have been absorbed (e.g. Kurzweil) or will have lost their dominant position. Financial information of this kind is simpiy too ephemeral for hard covers. We might, of course, choose to ignore the financial aspects of the book and view it as a broad summary of the computer industry. The difficulty here is that the breadth of coverage necessarily results in superficial treatment of many topics likely to be of interest to readers of this journal. Qube rates two sentences, direct broadcast satellites are allotted three paragraphs, electronic mail is scarcely mentioned, and information utilities are treated quite briefly in the chapter on “Home Information Systems”. In addition, several chapters deal exclusively with financial matters while other chapters treat topics such as electronic funds transfer and computer aided design and manufacturing. EFT and CAD/CAM are important topics but possibly of limited interest to readers who concern themselves with the manipulation of language. In short, the reader seeking an overview of recent developments in the computer industry will be better served by trade journais such as Datamation.
Viewdata and the Information Society. JAMB MARTIN, Prentice-Hall, (1982) viii + 293 pp. $29.95 ISBN o-13-941906-3.
Englewood
Cliffs, New Jersey
Pushbutton Fantasies: Critical Perspectives on Videotex and Information Technology. Mosco, ABLEX, Norwood, New Jersey (1982), ISBN O-89391-125-9, xi + 195 pp.
VINCENT
Even to people jaded by a long procession of technoIogica1 tools and toys, viewdata (or “videotex”) is captivating. It can usher theoretically limitless info~ation into home or workplace via a telephone, special television receiver (or conventional set with adaptor), and keying device. Material created and updated by Information Providers (“IPs”) is entered and stored in a central computer and, when requested by a viewdata patron, insinuated into that wasted portion of the standard television signal known as the Vertical Blanking Interval. Prophesiers charmed by the apparent promise of viewdata for the U.S.-where 98% of families own both television and telephone-have envisioned an entire populace enlightened by instantly accessible, ever-current news, financial, weather, sports, medical, travel, household, entertainment, sales and emergency information-and enabled to make better decisions and perform many tasks more efficiently. Without leaving the TV set, these prophets believe, a viewer may soon conduct research, jobhunt, send and receive messages, comparison-shop, place orders and reservations, pay bills, take courses, register opinions with pollsters, even vote . . . and hundreds more uses can be (and have been) imagined. The elderly, infant-burdened, sick, handicapped, and agoraphobic would participate more fully in commercial and social life, while normally active people would draw closer to home and hearth, perhaps even performing their jobs by gluing themselves to the tube, keypad in hand. Paper would become an anachronism . . . These are what Mosco calls “pushbutton fantasies”. Both he and Martin think this utopia of convenience unfeasible, though their perspectives differ sharply. Martin, for 19 years an IBM man, is now an independent lecturer/author/consultant. His book, a sort of primer on viewdata, is presented in attractive, readable format and embellished with color photos of actual viewdata screens. In clear lay language, he explains the technology, and, rather superficially, the history, problems, opportunities, and likely impact, of viewdata. Principal obstacles to its acceptance include its basic unsuitability for satisfying certain information needs; relatively
Book Reviews
573
poor graphic capabilities; a per-use charging system likely to encounter patron resistance; its disruption of established habits and rituals; its domination of the household phone and TV; and the competition of personal computers, cable television, and, especially, of cheap, portable, foldable, browsable, markable, lovable print-on-paper. Martin anticipates that viewdata will at most complement traditional information sources. It may present some competition to local newspapers (especially for the classified-ad dollar), but will generally offer paper-based publishing little threat. A peculiar final chapter describes reactions of consumer groups introduced experimentally to viewdata, and records brief out-of-context quotes. Though the consumers’ overall responses was positive, they raised some major concerns that Martin himself deals with only glancingly, but which are crucial to Mosco’s thoughtful Marxian analysis. Among these are the problem of safeguarding privacy in an interactive, computerized system; the potential for atomization of individuals and households, and increased depersonalization of society; the question of whether it is possible or desirable for the viewdata system to exert editorial control over IPs; likely bombardment of viewers by commercials masked as unbiased information (labelled by Mosco “informercials”); encouragement and ease of overspending; and a reduction in the number of jobs. Mosco warns that unless the government commits itself to viewdata regulation and funding, it will become just another profit-driven, debased mass medium, as vast and barren a “wasteland” as network television. Like Martin, Mosco is excited about viewdata’s possible benefits (for Mosco: the empowerment of individuals and fostering of social change), but his deep pessimism contrasts with Martin’s guarded optimism. The authors agree that, here as in Britain (which boasts the developed Prestel system), businesses will be the most hospitable market, and commercial information the predominant type offered. Once a sci-fi fantasy, viewdata is now an actuality perhaps on its way to becoming an office essential and household habit. Careful thinking about its most productive uses and potential effects should precede aggressive development. These books offer large helpings of food for such thought. Graduate Library School University of Chicago
Microcomputers RORVIG, White c-9 14236-67-9
MARY BIGGS
and Libraries: A Guide to Technology, Products and Afifilicantions. MARK E. Plains, N.Y.: Knowledge Industry Publ. 1981 iii + 135pp $27.50 (Pb), ISBN:
Microcomputers and Libraries: A Guide to Technology, Products and Applications is the first book to address in any depth the issues of microcomputers in libraries. Clearly the content of the book is oriented to librarians who need some background on microcomputers; it is not intended for technical people who need background on libraries. However, beyond that, the book’s orientation is unclear. Moreover, there is neither a preface nor cover description to offer any direction. The chapters of the book can be divided fairly easily into two categories. The first are those that primarily emphasize microcomputers, their technology, and capabilities. Topics in this section include microcomputer history, terminology, hardware, selection of microcomputers, comparison of microcomputers, and additional resources for microcomputers knowledge and information. Almost without exception, these chapters are similar to any introductory general interest microcomputer book currently available. Mr. Rorvig has done reasonably well in presenting the facts. However, he does make some questionable statements. As an example, in his section on CRT features, Mr. Rorvig discusses such attributes as number of rows and columns. While it is true that specific machines display different row/column combinations, it is not a function of the CRT. Rather it’s a function of the machine itself. Additionally, Mr. Rorvig’s presentation of information is extremely brief and condensed. This approach will most likely prevent the novice from digesting its contents. I found the content to be almost reference in nature-fact after fact with few examples. The second grouping of chapters are those that particularly emphasize libraries and library applications. Only two chapters in the book fall into this grouping, the first of which describes particular software application packages. These include Golden Retriever, Apple II “Loan”, and OL’SAM. The list is by no means complete, but the sampling provides a general overview of what is available. The list, unfortunately, only skims over general purpose software such as work processing, accounts payable, receivables, and file storage/retrieval and database systems. My experience has indicated that many packages in these areas are quite useful to librarians in an “as is” form.