Michael Hart, often overlooked in the annals of digital history, is the visionary behind the e-book and the broader Internet culture we know today. His brainchild, Project Gutenberg, laid the groundwork for the proliferation of electronic books, open-source collaboration, and user-generated content. This transformative idea, born in 1971, has since evolved into a vast repository of tens of thousands of public domain texts, accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. Hart's innovation has not only democratized access to literature but has also influenced the way we think about information sharing and consumption in the digital age.
In 1971, Michael Hart was granted access to significant computing power at the University of Illinois. Recognizing the potential of this resource, he decided to digitize the Declaration of Independence, making it freely available to the public. This marked the inception of Project Gutenberg, the first initiative to create free electronic versions of literary works. Today, Project Gutenberg offers over 60,000 free e-books, according to their website, and continues to inspire similar projects worldwide.
E-books have been compared to the Gutenberg press in their significance for the dissemination of knowledge. They are considered public goods, with negligible costs for production and distribution. This has profound implications for global literacy, as e-books can be accessed on various devices, including the billions of mobile phones in use worldwide. The United Nations' International Telecommunication Union reported that by the end of 2019, there were more than 7.9 billion mobile-cellular subscriptions globally, highlighting the potential reach of e-books.
Project Gutenberg's e-books quickly adapted to new technologies, becoming available on iPods shortly after their release and later on smartphones like the iPhone. This adaptability has positioned e-books as a preferred medium for reading, especially as mobile devices become increasingly ubiquitous. The convenience and accessibility of e-books on these platforms have contributed to their growing popularity.
Michael Hart was known for his anti-authoritarian views and his commitment to empowering individuals over corporations and governments. His dedication to making literature freely available was a testament to his belief in the power of knowledge to transform society. Hart's vision was to provide universal access to literature, thereby promoting education and literacy on a global scale.
On Michael Hart's 62nd birthday, snippets of interviews with him were published, revealing insights into his motivations and the early days of Project Gutenberg. Hart's reflections on the potential of e-books and his critique of the publishing industry's slow adaptation to digital formats offer a glimpse into the mind of a true innovator.
The proliferation of e-books and digital libraries has the potential to revolutionize access to knowledge. With millions of titles available for free or at minimal cost, the barriers to education and literacy are being dismantled. The World eBook Fair, for instance, offers access to a vast collection of e-books, furthering Hart's dream of a world where literature is accessible to all.
Michael Hart's pioneering work with Project Gutenberg has had a lasting impact on the way we access and interact with literature. His vision of freely available e-books has become a reality, with millions of titles now accessible to anyone with an Internet connection. Hart's legacy is a testament to the transformative power of sharing knowledge and the enduring value of the written word in the digital age.
For more on the impact of e-books and the future of publishing, consider exploring the following resources:
The Ubiquitous Britannica 2015
Encyclopedia Britannica is now online and as a DVD. The print edition has been discontinued.
Pears Cyclopaedia 2014-5 Edition: Human Knowledge Encapsulated
Pears Cyclopaedia is the last remaining one volume reference work.
Envy as the Foundation of Capitalism
Envy is either destructive, or, as in the case of capitalism, constructive.
