[Air-L] CDs and DVDs? + potentially inappropriate query

[C.H.]

Recent crazes of data science and AI are enabled by FLOSS software
universes such as R's, Numpy's, Tensor Flow's and Torch's.

Of course, Linux is running on at least 80% of internet servers and
75% of smartphones (Android). The browsers that run on most of the
computers on earth are mostly based on the same FLOSS engine
(WebKit/Blink).

I think the problem is: FLOSS is so ubiquitous to a point that we
don't notice it's prominence anymore. And hence, "FLOSS is more or
less no longer a relevant topic".


On Fri, May 3, 2019 at 9:26 AM Charles M. Ess <c.m.ess at media.uio.no> wrote:
>
> Dear colleagues,
>
> I am revising my _Digital Media Ethics_ for a 3rd edition (!!), due out
> early next year.
>
> A first query: an important criticism raised by an astute and most
> helpful reviewer has to do with (a) using an example of stealing a CD
> and (b) a larger discussion of FLOSS and copyleft schemes such as
> Creative Commons licensing, etc.  The reviewer observes that (a) his/her
> students simply will not recognize or relate to the example involving a
> CD as, briefly, streaming services have largely taken over music
> consumption practices and very few, if any, students still purchase CDs.
>   Similarly (b) FLOSS is more or less no longer a relevant topic; rather
> discussion of copyright / copyleft is now much more focused on remix
> practices.
>
> Based on what I know of the US/UK contexts, the reviewer is clearly spot
> on, and I'm genuinely very grateful for the insightful critiques and
> constructive suggestions, and will do my best to pursue these.
>
> At the same time, however - and this, at last, leads to the query - I'm
> wondering how culturally/nationally variable these points may be?
> That is: (a) I know that in this here Scandinavia, despite the
> overwhelming predominance of consumption via streaming services, CDs
> (and DVDs) are still prominently on offer, not only in brick-and-mortar
> and online stores: they are also _de rigueur_ at every concert I've
> attended, i.e., for sale at the end thereof.  There is no doubt that
> their sales numbers have plummeted - now outdone by vinyl in some cases
> - but here, I have the impression, they remain familiar artifacts?
> Similarly (b) I think I know that interest in FLOSS production and
> distribution remains strong in Latin America and at least some parts of
> Asia?
>
> So: only for the sake of having a better global sense of these points -
> if AoIR-ists can offer culturally-/nationally-specific quick
> characterizations of how far
> (a) physical media such as CDs do / not remain relevant in especially
> student music consumption, and/or
> (b) FLOSS - including ongoing development and distribution of software
> (beyond the usual suspects of Mozilla products, wikipedia, etc.) is / no
> longer of any significance?
>
> I hope this query might be of general interest as it would give us at
> least a quick and dirty snapshot of all of this.
> Again, the point is not to somehow counter an important critique and
> helpful suggestion.  On the contrary, I gratefully take the points and
> suggestions - but want / need to know how far these may hold globally as
> the book is aimed towards a global audience.
>
> Second - potentially inappropriate - query.  In conjunction with this
> revision, the publisher (Polity Press) has asked me to develop a list of
> colleagues who may be interested in receiving a review copy of the book
> when it is published - along with a list of journals that might likewise
> be interested in reviewing it.
>
> If you are so interested and/or have a suggestion for a journal /
> reviewer, I'd be very grateful if you would contact me offlist with your
> contact details and/or journal suggestions.
>
> As usual, a thousand thanks and all best in the meantime,
> - charles
> --
> Professor in Media Studies
> Department of Media and Communication
> University of Oslo
> <http://www.hf.uio.no/imk/english/people/aca/charlees/index.html>
>
> Postboks 1093
> Blindern 0317
> Oslo, Norway
> c.m.ess at media.uio.no
> _______________________________________________
> The Air-L at listserv.aoir.org mailing list
> is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org
> Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org
>
> Join the Association of Internet Researchers:
> http://www.aoir.org/