Google-backed drones will drop library books to kids in SW Virginia

This is in the county, Montgomery, where Virgina Tech is based. They have a very large UAV program there. So much so that they applied for a campus-wide FAA exemption. I think it's cool if a bit useless. But if you have a hammer, everything else is a nail. Books have been delivered electronically for decades. Electronically flying a physical book doesn't look to be our future.

I can’t help but think a car would have been a better delivery mechanism but then Google wouldn’t get much press from it. Doing “good things” just for better optics really leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

For the low-tech version, see Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

Why is this a great idea, but Amazon delivering packages via drones crazy? Technologically, it's the exact same thing.

Huh, the median income of Christiansburg, VA is way higher than I expected. $60-80k?

It&#x27;s cool technology, but I guess ebooks might have been even more effective.<p>Side note, for once I am happy to be in Germany and not the US. Here Libraries are open. I go to the gym. Next week I even have a movie date at the local cinema.

That packaging looks incredibly expensive. Even if the other components&#x2F;service was free, that alone would make this price uncompetitive.<p>That makes me think this is a long long way from being a self sustaining business.

Hmmm... dropping books on kids...<p>It&#x27;s good that cows are not flying...<p>Wait, Russians did that already <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;QvRiXIfRsCw?t=28" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;QvRiXIfRsCw?t=28</a>

Wow, I would love to see some research done on this. Does drone delivery of books improve reading rates among public school children? My hypothesis: No.

Over-engineering vs ebooks

Anyone got a pastebin? Article&#x27;s behind a paywall.

This seems insane. Why not digitally deliver any e-book in a plain text instead of this pr stunt?