I think its all a little bittersweet in my book. Technology and all its components that is. . .
To quote Trey back in August, " . . .We’re gonna have an illiterate generation soon!" I think that’s what Glenn and others are talking about. Right now, Sony makes a product where you can buy books off the internet, downloading them to a particular machine to read. The IPhone and IPod Touch have the same capability. Now, in my opinion, the average consumer who purchases this product is not buying it to read. On the contrary, they are buying it because its new and edgy and a new gadget on the market. Americans are so focused on the gadget instead of what the gadget actually does: make reading books more functional and portable.
As a journalist and writer, the Sony E-Reader saddens me. Yes, I am one of those who loves my book shelf. I love opening the first page of a new book smelling the freshly printed ink, and Yes, getting that first whiff of a newly purchased newspaper. But I digress . . .
Do I believe IPods and Sony E-Readers and 3D movies will slowly turn our children in walking technical zombies or “illiterate fucktards”? Absolutely not. Like Ed said, this generation is in fact more intelligent than those that came before them. If they weren’t, we wouldn’t be able to use or invent such technology at all.
That said, I believe we need to find somewhat of a happy medium. We don’t need to become SO intelligent that we are beyond generations of our past. We don’t need to replace books or newspapers or print with Sony E-Readers. Afterall, William Faulkner once said, “The past is never dead. In fact, it’s not even past.” Yes, push forward, use our intelligence, embrace 3D technology and new technology!
But, don’t forget to " . . .Pick up a fucking book!"
