Greetings!
By the time you read this you will all have read the Will Self article. It raises some interesting points, both negative and positive and is a good starter to open up some blog discussion.
As I have said before, I think I am somewhere in the middle of the argument (not a stance I take in many other aspects of my thinking) in that I like the idea of feeling the book, annotating if I feel the inclination and displaying texts in bookcases. That said, there is something to be said for storing info electronically in a portable way, ideal for travel which is something that I am very fond of.
So the question is, are you a fence sitter like me on this subject or are do you have a firm view on the subject of digital books?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this and also what you thought of today's assessment, whether it be how you think you fared, the content itself, actually doing the first assessment for me or anything along those lines really. Go on, get typing why don't you!
Mark
I think the article was interesting and challenging, which is good as it makes the task interesting too. It was not easy but from my point of view, it's better to deal with subjects that offers you many possibilities rather than a text with just one interpretation. Said that, even if I struggle to make myself clear the guide you gave us it's being very helpful so I'm just trying to adapt my writing into that patterns.
ReplyDeleteAbout the topic it's not easy to be in one side, as I really like books and I'm going to keep buying them but also I don't think we should make a final battle out of the matter. Maybe I'm not being realistic but I hope both new technologies and books to coexist without one killing the other. See you tomorrow guys!
I hope both paper copy and electronic text can live harmoniously for a long time yet. After all, the former has been around a heck of a lot longer!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I would be in favour of digital books. I like the idea of anyone in the world being able to download and read any book, although I can see why Will Self would be hesitant about Google's intentions. It would be a shame however to see public libraries go - although the idea that a library could hold so many more books than it is physically capable of is an interesting one. No more waiting weeks for someone to return a textbook you need to read for an essay (I've been there), just go to the library and access it there immediately.
ReplyDeleteI know I would probably read many more books than I do currently if I had a Kindle, although I feel bad about the idea that writers would suffer for it...
I have to admit I was totally against the digital books so didn't bother researching them. This assessment though really did give me food for thought. Maybe I was being a little quick to jump the gun and incredibly stubborn for refusing to investigate further! Mark however has, in a manner, forced the subject on me with this assessment and I'm glad he did. I found myself wondering if maybe, a digital book in the Christmas stocking this year wouldn't go amiss…..
ReplyDeleteI was speaking with Scott today and he was saying how helpful it would be for him to download the whole works of Kant as he's taken over the Philosophy Higher this year. I told him to pop it on his Xmas list too! I wonder whether the faculty would fund some for my department, for research purposes...
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