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A new aid to rapid--almost magical--learning has made its appearance.

Indications are that if it catches on all the electronic gadgets will be

so much junk.

The new device is known as Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge.

The makers generally call it by its initials, BOOK(tm).

Many advantages are claimed over the old-style learning and teaching

aids on which most people are brought up nowadays. It has no wires,

no electric circuit to break down. No connection is needed to an

electricity power point. It is made entirely without mechanical parts to

go wrong or need replacement.

Anyone can use BOOK(tm), even children, and it fits comfortably into

the hands. It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair by the fire.

How does this revoluntionary, unbelievably easy invention work?

Basically BOOK(tm) consists only of a large number of paper sheets.

These may run to hundreds where BOOK(tm) covers a lengthy program

of information. Each sheet bears a number in sequence, so that the

sheets cannot be used in the wrong order.

To make it even easier for the user to keep the sheets in the proper

order they are held firmly in place by a special locking device called a

"binding".

Each sheet of paper presents the user with an information sequence

in the form of symbols, which he absorbs optically for automatic

registration on the brain. When one sheet has been assimilated a flick of

the finger turns it over and further information is found on the other

side.By using both sides of each sheet in this way a great economy is

effected, thus reducing both the size and cost of BOOK(tm). No buttons

need to be pressed to move from one sheet to another, to open or close

BOOK(tm), or to start it working.

BOOK(tm) may be taken up at any time and used by merely opening it.

Instantly it is ready for use. Nothing has to be connected up or switched

on. The user may turn at will to any sheet, going backwards or

forwards as he pleases. A sheet is provided near the beginnning as a

location finder for any required information sequence.

A small accessory, available at trifling extra cost, is the

BOOK(tm)mark. This enables the user to pick up his programme where

he left off on the previous learning session. BOOK(tm)mark is versatile

and may be used in any BOOK(tm).

The initial cost varies with the size and subject matter. Already a

vast range of BOOK(tm)s is available, covering every conceivable subject

and adjusted to different levels of aptitude. One BOOK(tm), small enough

to be held in the hands, may contain an entire learning schedule.

Once purchased, BOOK(tm) requires no further upkeep cost; no

batteries or wires are needed, since the motive power, thanks to an

ingenious device patented by the makers, is supplied by the brain of the

user.

BOOK(tm)s may be stored on handy shelves and for ease of

reference the program schedule is normally indicated on the back of the

binding.

Altogether the Built-in Orderly Organized Knowledge seems to have

great advantages with no drawbacks. We predict a big future for it.

Here's the supervisor's response:

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BOOK(tm) does not, in spite of the claims, seem "to have great

advantages with no drawbacks". Soon, it probably won't even be legal.

Consider:

It can be conveniently used sitting in an armchair by the fire. Being

paper, it might burn in the fire. Probably fire laws in most locations

wouldn't allow its use there. Worse, such a device, which encourages

close proximity of the user to fire, will be outlawed by OSHA's request.

"Each sheet bears a number in sequence, so that the sheets cannot

be used in the wrong order." How quaint; to think that the programmer

(author) would be allowed to turn over such an important task to the

user! "cannot" is clearly misuse; any user could incorrectly turn to the

wrong sheet. A proper user interface might correct that, of course,

such as requiring that each sheet be torn off to expose the next. This is

in clear conflict with "The user may turn at will to any sheet, going

backwards or forwards as he pleases."

"BOOK(tm)s may be stored on handy shelves and for ease of

reference". The user interface obviously needs more work before such

a system can be practical.

"the motive power -- is supplied by the brain of the user". Clearly,

the

inventors have not examined recent trends. No serious person would

suggest even expecting a "user" to have a brain present, much less to

use it so continuously.

I'd suggest the inventors return to their consoles and do a thorough

associative search of various data banks, like the rest of us, and forget

this nonsense.

Sue (tm)

Lead me not into temptation.... I can find it myself!