Bits, Telecasting & Songles

Jaron Lanier discusses various strategies for enabling creators of music, movies or text to be paid for on-line consumption of their work, while retaining the flexibility and convenience of the web.

One concept, based on the ideas of Ted Nelson, who invented the hyperlink, involves integrating the function of ISPs with the collection of micro-amounts of money per bit when a content link is accessed. However this would involve a radical reshaping of the infrastructure of the web, perhaps using Nelson's own Xanadu system, which is different from html.

Another possibility for musicians and performers would be "telecasting" live performances on subscription. As domestic screens and audio improve in quality, size and volume (HD, surround sound) the telecasts would be more immersive and closer to the experience of a live gig.

Lanier also has a curious proposal for musicians - the "songle" or musical dongle. As it's becoming easier to embed digital files and wireless devices in anything and everything, he suggests music should be sold via physical objects, which could be integrated into everyday objects - coffee mugs, hats, clothes, as appropriate. A party skirt would play Lady Gaga as soon its owner made her entrance, a zoot suit would play swing & jive...