The Digital Reader

I don’t usually cover politics on this blog. It’s off-topic, usually, but also because you don’t want to see me foam at the mouth (well, you might; I’m told it’s entertaining). But last night was the State of the Union address, and digital textbooks made an appearance. Mr. Obama proposed nationwide high speed wireless network, and ebooks were mentioned as a way it would be used. NPR have a transcript of the SotU, and here’s the relevant excerpt:

Within the next five years, we’ll make it possible for businesses to deploy the next generation of high-speed wireless coverage to 98 percent of all Americans. …  It’s about a firefighter who can download the design of a burning building onto a handheld device; a student who can take classes with a digital textbook;…

And then I read the rest of the speech and was reminded why I ignore politics. I’m the type of person to interrupt a speech and point out that what the speaker just said is not true. I’d like to poke holes in last night’s speech, but I’d rather keep the blog civil and on-topic.