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Last week, I read this blog. It inspired me to think about the value of social media, e-readers, and e-publishing. As writers and thinkers, we have a responsibility to the future. Or more accurately, we have a responsibility to preserve history. We must make published documents accessible for future generations.

Do you think they’ll use the same technology in 2511 we use now? Is publishing our most valuable information in such a way that is likened to thousands of authors 500 years ago writing a trillion documents on papyrus, shredding each document into 10,000 pieces, and strewing those documents across the earth the best way to preserve our history?

In that blog, the author jokingly theorized that perhaps future generations might study Kanye West’s tweets. Do you think civilizations 500 years from now will consider what he tweeted, in the midst of zillions of gigabytes of information, that valuable? I’d argue that in the 26th century Kanye West and Lady Gaga will be celebrated, if they are known, in the same way we celebrate minstrels. Do you consider lyrics of a minstrel from 500 years ago valuable? Do you know any?

I theorize ancient civilizations had better means to preserve their most valuable documents. Though, just as we publish in a way that is the most convenient and cost saving for us, perhaps they published in the same way.

What do you think? Is e-publishing likened to thousands of authors, writing trillions of documents, shredding each of those docs into ten thousand pieces, and strewing them across the earth? Or is e-publishing likened to the advent of the printing press? I’d love to know your thoughts.

Stay social, my friends!

Erick

Several years ago, I went to one of poet Billy Collins poetry readings. After the reading, I had the chance to ask for his autograph. I handed him my book and asked, “What would you say to someone about to graduate from college with his Literature degree, who has no idea what he wants to do other than write?”

Mr. Collins set the book down, leaned back, stretched his arms out and placed his hands behind his head, so his arms made a wing-like shape, and looked off into the distance. I looked back at the line of hundreds of autograph-seekers and then at the poet.

To Mr. Collins, perhaps thinking of how to answer my question, the crowd had disappeared. “Let it move into the center of your life,” he said. “Don’t expect it to happen overnight. Let it evolve.” His wisdom continued, and I asked him questions. He had stepped out of his role as poet into that of teacher, sage, and perhaps even father.

Yesterday, I came across this blog about the Kindlegraph. It allows readers to request autographs from authors via Docusign. The author of this blog wrote, “there are certain aspects of physical books that ebooks will struggle to replicate.”

Even if during my lifetime, Facebook, Google, or Microsoft introduces a technology that allows authors to beam themselves into bookstores via holographs, so they can use a digital pen to sign ereaders via infrared technology, that will not replace the personal touch of waiting in line for hours only to stand in front of one of your literary heroes for just one moment and engaging.

Stay social, my friends!

Erick

This week, let’s talk about the content management system—phpWCMS. It’s not a U.S. company, and I am not sure what the letters stand for; but it works with any system running PHP and MySQL. And you can download it on Google Code.  For those of you who don’t want to try to take the time to learn a new language, they offer an English version.

There are three versions you can download, and various ways to download those versions, so if one doesn’t work try another.  Among the features of phpWCMS, there are templates that allow you to separate content and design, individual workflow management, and many other features.  For those interested in downloading phpWCMS, while open source usually means limited direct technical support, there are forums, an FAQ section, and a very kind staff who ask you to peruse the forum and FAQ sections before e-mailing them.

So, let’s move right along to OpenDocMan, which is a document management system.  It complies with ISO 17025 and OIE standard for document management, which means absolutely nothing to me.  Among the features of OpenDocMan, it supports multiple file types thus allowing you to integrate your company’s current rules into its system.  Also, permissions can be given to certain people, while other people can be restricted from certain areas.  The best feature of OpenDocMan is that they also feature a Document Management hosting service (that one’s not free though).

For those who want to know more, while they didn’t make the page pretty, you can read more here.  You can also create an account and join their forums.  Or contact them for installation assistance.

Okay, so I owe you a blog about another good open source document management system.  I can promise that I’ll blog about it next week.  And I can also promise that I’m going to wear a superman costume and run around San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, while spreading my arms out and making airplane noises.  However, neither of those is going to happen, so I won’t make either of those promises.  I’m over open source dms for a while, but I’m not over telling you about the best open source projects the Internet offers for your SEO content and social media marketing endeavors.

So, come back next week, as it will be the first of a new blog series, and keep your eye on my site for some new things in 2010.

Thanks for reading,

Erick

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