Technology always changes and with it comes new forms of
culture and attitudes. However, some technologies can’t replace what has been
held in world for a “very long time” in which I mean printed-paper. EBooks and
other forms of online media may provide better mobility to the average reader,
but paper has its true profound meaning in history. Without paper religion,
story telling, or a causal message wouldn’t have spread through different
regions of the world. Our history would only be ideas instead of hard evidence
written on paper.
The feel of
ownership of a book has a special connection with a physical touch with our
hands. We can appreciate the writing even more as we hold it and turn each page
knowing something new it written on the next page. Technologies such as the
EBook and tablets can take away our “primitive” way of writing/reading and
start a new era of life. However,
holding something, other than eBook, has a special meaning to it because it’s
right there with no tricks and no fancy distraction. EBooks and other things of
that nature are useful and do spread, but for some people the simple things are
better. If one wants to read it book, they should “read” the book in a manner that
suits them best.
I guess not everyone saw my email about posting about the Eisenstein this week! It sounds like you are responding to the Doctorow here, which I think is a short, fairly accessible piece because it was initially delivered as a talk. If you can, try to focus in on some specific part of the text and dialogue with the author... in this case, you sound like you're very interested in the physical touch connection made with a print book, but don't we also touch our ereaders when we read? If we touch both, what's the difference?
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