Microsoft Makes Big Deal With Library Of Congress
Microsoft has made a deal with the Library Of Congress, powering the Library’s new interactive materials site with its Silverlight technology, and donating a lot of technology to be used by Library visitors. Microsoft donated $3 million worth of technology, including new library and search tools, as well as Vista-powered kiosks.
Microsoft Silverlight, a graphical browser plug-in, will help power the library’s new Web site, www.myloc.gov, where users will be able to access and personalize interactive materials.
The open source community is up in arms about the proprietary nature of Silverlight, but given Microsoft’s efforts at cross-platform compatibility of Silverlight, as well as the fact that it’s only on one, highly interactive website that would have needed Flash or Silverlight anyways, it’s not that big a deal.
That’s nice. I agree, there was probably going to be some plug-in anyways, so who cares if it’s Flash or Silverlight. Besides, Silverlight is more better from what I’ve heard.
It’s just Silverlight. I wonder if it’ll be similar to the British Library book experience. The “Turning the Page 2.0″ thing : http://www.bl.uk/ttp2/ttp1.html
Comment by Michael | February 26, 2008