One journalist points out that in the past, one could meet a stranger by making a comment about the book in the stranger's hand and now, the only comment one could make is about the device itself. This idea that "too much privacy" leads to antisocial behavior truly amuses me. While I agree that books are a great way to start up a conversation with the person you'll be sitting next to for a 6-hour flight, it definitely is not the main way people meet one another. Perhaps some people just want some things to remain as they are in a world where permanence is a fantasy at best.
It makes me wonder whether those who want a return to simpler times just dislike adapting to our new world or if it is something bigger. Perhaps those people are fearful of the reach that technology has on our society and how reliant we have all become on it. Media may be extensions of ourselves, but how much of it is an extension and how much has a life of its own?
2-page e-reader to resemble a real book.
Seeing if e-ink can compare to book ink in the sunlight.
A touchscreen e-reader.
I think that with this new technology we have lost some social interaction among very basic relationships. These devices are moving through people at a rapid pace and before long we may totally lose all physical paper. The E-Reader devices do not handle sunlight well. For example, my aunt just got an E-Reader and she brought it to the beach all summer (just as she used to do with her books). Every day she complained about not being able to see the words well and needing to shade the E-Reader in order to read, which completely defeats the purpose of being at the beach in the sun. Also, my aunts all read books and trade them with each other once they are finished. E-Reader devices eliminate this freedom and fun activity, which somewhat hinders relationships and friendly discussion. The techonolgy and media devices of our generation are developing at a rapid pace.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you. It makes me mad when people say we're becoming anti-social because of "too much privacy." If a stranger walked up to me and started making mindless conversation I would thoroughly be freaked out. No one does that. And if you do do it, find a better line than "oh that's an interesting book" at least be original in your creepiness!
ReplyDeleteI think that anyone who complains after getting a substitute for anything is an idiot. Especially people who complain after getting an e-reader, they should have tried it out first, if they really do read so much that they HAD to get an e-reader, I would think that it would be an investment worth researching first. Then to complain that it does not resemble the book they were trying to change from is just stupid. Maybe these people are just scared that they are being engulfed into a technology filled world and they just want to return to a simpler time where you could just turn a page without touching a screen or buttons.
ReplyDeleteI think you make great points! I agree with people that e-readers aren't like books and don't really like them for that reason. But I think more interesting is you commentary on privacy. Good post, I really enjoyed reading your thoughts on this!
ReplyDeleteCat,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your posting. I think e-books are taking away the genuine experience of reading. Books have so much physical character that is lost in a simple, more compact e-book. Thus, these invisible hands of society are slowly eating away the essence of true intellectualism. With all these technological advances, are we really progressing as a society? Are the ideals of simple reading and writing processes becoming forgotten by these products?
MM
"e-readers are ruining their dating life." this is a very interesting point, which I hasn't been able to imagine before.
ReplyDeleteBut maybe when e-reader become more and more common, people's conversation topics will switch back from the device to the books again?
In the early stage of every new technology, there's always a social scare, fearing its emergence corrupting tradition. Like Socrates with the writing technology.
If interested, you could take a look at the new book by Ted Striphas: The Late Age of Print. Very interesting book.
Very thoughtful post!