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 program 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.
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TO: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
FR: ADMINISTRATOR

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.

Regarding the claim that "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 you return to your consoles and do a thorough associative
search of various data banks, like the rest of us, and forget this
nonsense.
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ADDENDUM FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

A further problem exists with this so-called BOOK concept. Whoever would
you get to write such a thing? The way it appears, each paper sheet would
have to be filled from edge to edge with WORDS (Well-Ordered, Recognizable
Dialogue Symbols). Can you imagine asking someone to put that many WORDS
together? It would take, by reasonable calculations, 30,000 to 50,000 WORDS
to create this BOOK thing. You will never, ever get anyone who would be so
disciplined as to sit down and string together that many words. Can you
imagine how long that would take? So, even if the BOOK idea ever were to be
tried, what crazy lunatic would ever want to write one? It'll never work.
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