<p> There are billions of cell phones and other mobile devices, computers, and dedicated readers in the world that can be used for reading eBooks and accessing other digital content. They may also be used for sharing, editing, annotating, and authoring. Is the future what the inventors of the digital revolution dreamed of? Yes and no. While digital content can be liberated and liberating, it is also being used to turn the masses into complacent consumer zombies. These wondrous tools for creating and sharing our own content might, at the same time, de-emphasize our ability to use the written word and logical thinking. In this session, the father of eBooks will share his thoughts on these topics and more. Despite corporate control and other negative forces, the liberation and proliferation of digital capabilities and content is changing the world for good, and will continue to do so. The session will discuss how software, creative thinking, and contributed labor have created the free digital content of today. More importantly, it will point the way to a future of content that achieves our dreams, and more. </p>
<p> <strong> Greg Newby </strong> is a high-end computing technologist and information engineer. He has been with Project Gutenberg since 1991. His overarching goal is to make information and information systems more useable and accessible to all persons. He has been involved with HOPE conferences since 2000. </p>
<p> <strong> Michael S. Hart </strong> invented eBooks in 1971, and has spent nearly 40 years fostering the digitization and free distribution of eBooks and other digital content. He was a HOPE keynote speaker in 2006. </p>