An example of trying to engage with the dominant device, the Humane Reader is a new project that helps bring online content to homes with no internet connection, with a unit that could be produced for $20.

Only approximately 20% of the developing world are internet users. The remaining 80% do not have access to online reference sources such as Wikipedia, online libraries of books and information to improve literacy, nor access to a computer to develop technological skills.

The Humane Reader device addresses this gap by providing the equivalent of a 5,000 book library in content at very low cost to households, libraries, and schools. No internet connection is required – the Humane Reader requires only a television set.

Books and text are stored on a simple SD memory Card – the type used by digital cameras – which are relatively low cost (~$4 for 2GB in bulk) and can hold the equivalent of thousands of books. The Humane Reader allows a user to access the contents of the SD Card for display on a common TV set.

Given that the focus is on offering materials to help maintain or improve literacy while showing an awareness of local conditions, it may offer an interesting alternative to the more ambitious but problematic One Laptop Per Child Program.

The new year is here and it is time to look to the past to see where we have been. Ars technica gives us an interesting post on the open source victories of 2008.

And what will the future bring? According to some, librarian will be one of the best careers for 2009. Apparently librarians will…

…go on shopping sprees, deciding which books and online resources to buy. They may even get to put on performances, like children’s puppet shows, and run other programs, like book discussion groups for elders.

It was also one of the best careers for 2008, but if you take a look the median salary appears to have dropped by $4000. Maybe we need to put on better puppet shows…