Re: AIS: CD of R & I's, etc.
- Subject: Re: [iris-talk] AIS: CD of R & I's, etc.
- From: G* S*
- Date: Tue, 24 Jul 2001 20:16:28 -0700
John Jones wrote:
>
>
> Here is another project - Getting all the AIS bulletins on line
> including GIFs of all the pictures, searchable text and downloadable
> PDFs. All this to go along with the index that is being developed. Any takers?
As you know, I am doing a small part of that. I have been working on AIS
minutes and a few other historical things.
Getting all the Bulletins available would be a tremendous achievement.
>
> As to how many woulld pay $25.00 for a CD? My guess is about 4 or 5. And
> then their friends call up and "Hey, how about making me a copy of your
> CD?" Just email it to me will you? And how long before it would appear
> on someones website free for anyone to download. (Yes there is a bit of
> cynicism there). Ever hear of Napster?? I just think we have to be
> realistic about it all.
You say that like it's a bad thing.
There is a BIG difference between the R&I data and the music stolen via
Napster. (There is also one important similarity: both are of value.)
People make their living recording music. While it is not clear that
sales have been hurt by Napster, there is a real possibility of
significant financial loss to creative people.
But the great work done by your dedicated team has all been on a
volunteer basis. People did the work because they wanted the data
available. I cannot speak for any member of your team, but it would not
surprise me if some/many feel that the more available the data is the
better.
The R&I's and Checklists have never been a (significant) moneymaker for
AIS. But making the data available should not be a drain on the Society,
either. As the rules change (the books will become less and less
important with time; the only question is how fast), there is the
possibility of AIS will get stuck with a whole bunch of unsold books.
Other than that, I see little harm from "stealing" the data. The cost of
hosting the website is a consideration, since it will be needed through
the forseeable future, but that should not be large now and should
decrease as computers and communications get cheaper.
Disclaimer: my point of view is strongly influenced by Linux, which is a
very powerful operating system (in many ways better than anything
Microsoft has to offer), created by volunteers, and available for free.
Gerry, still very grateful to JIJ and team
--
g*@mediaone.net
Gerry Snyder, AIS Symposium Chair, Region 15 RVP
Member San Fernando Valley, Southern California Iris Societies
in warm, winterless Los Angeles--USDA 9b-ish, Sunset 18-19
my work: helping generate data for: http://galileo.jpl.nasa.gov/
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