Friends of the ODU Libraries Co-sponsoring ‘Google and the World Brain’ at Naro Cinema

May 13, 2014

George Fowler

Norfolk's Naro Cinema, with Friends of the Old Dominion University Libraries, will present a special viewing of the film "Google and the World Brain" at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, May 21. It's the story of the most ambitious project ever conceived on the Internet.

In 2002, Google began to scan millions of books in an effort to create a giant global library, containing every book in existence. There was an even greater purpose - to create a higher form of intelligence, something that H.G. Wells had predicted in his 1937 essay "World Brain."

But more than half the books Google scanned were in copyright, and authors across the world launched a campaign to stop Google, which climaxed in a New York courtroom in 2011. For more information on this 90-minute film about the dreams, dilemmas and dangers of the Internet, go to http://www.worldbrainthefilm.com/.

ODU's D.E. Wittkower and George Fowler will facilitate a post-film discussion. Wittkower is an assistant professor of philosophy at the university, where he teaches courses on philosophy of technology, digital culture, new media and information ethics. He is author or editor of six books, including "Facebook and Philosophy," and has written articles on topics including online self-identity, the crisis in copyright and cultural ownership in a digital age. Fowler is the associate university librarian for information resources and technology and is pursuing a Ph.D. in higher education at ODU.

Free tickets are available to members of the ODU community at the Learning Commons Help Desk in Perry Library. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $9.