Does the average internet user spend more time reading content (news, information, entertainment) or communicating (through email, listservs, or IM)? The answer used to be communication, but in September 2004 it shifted for the first time to content (41.0% content v. 39.8% communication). See the evidence as gathered and presented by the Online Publishers Association (OPA). As Outsell observes in its comment on the development, however, the OPA study is based more on consumer-oriented content than academic content. (PS: But let's assume that the willingness of academic users to read academic content online is also increasing. That would be an encouraging trend, even if not required for the success or benefits of OA.)
Posted by
Peter Suber at 11/03/2004 03:50:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
I recommend the OA tracking project (OATP) as the best way to stay on top of new OA developments. You can read the OATP feed on a blog-like web page or subscribe to it by RSS, email, or Twitter. You can also help build the feed by tagging new developments you encounter.
