James Gleick's article about the digitization of many of the world's greatest and most prized documents and artifacts is one that I find very interesting. The idea that almost any historical and/or literary document will soon be available at the click of a mouse is entirely exciting for me. I think that this digitization will only bring a higher value to knowledge, and in my opinion any amount of knowledge is more valuable than any artifact one can buy.
The fact that there are those out there who are opposed to this idea of a digital renaissance simply shows the ignorance of society. In order for human society to further itself and evolve as a whole is by the acquiring on information, and the applications of this and previously known information. Without the digitization of the world's great information, millions of people will continue to live in the dark. They will never really know where they came from, or why they do the things they do, or anything other than the obvious. The people who oppose the idea of the digitization of information are probably worried about the financial losses actual museums, libraries, and other establishments known for housing information will take, but the increase in information value is completely lost on these skeptics.
I personally find that digital researching can be just as time consuming and personally taxing as any research done in the stacks of a library. I also have found that there is a wider variety of information, ideas and counter concepts available to today's digital researchers, and this variety allows for a more concrete understanding of the ideas and information accessed. I think this digital renaissance has begun, and will only continue to move forward, and allow more and more people around the world to access any piece of information they can dream of at the touch of a finger, and I can't wait to see what happens next.
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