Pick one issue raised by Steven Johnson in the Wall Street Journal article and write a one or two paragraph analysis of it.
Post your analysis as a comment, by clicking on the link in the bottom corner.
Check out this link to the summary vs. analysis information we discussed in class.
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While I see where he is coming from, the author is making a poor argument by using general web-surfing instead of the digital music revolution, which would have served as a much better analogy. While there are many differences, they still have the shared experience of being a newly digitalized artistic medium. When music went broadband, many feared the exact opposite: that people would become so focused on certain artists that they would stop discovering new bands and music, and lose the passion that defined record stores before the conversion. Today there is more of this than ever, with entire networks starting up that are dedicated to sharing music, as well as giving underground "indie" bands more opportunity to compete with mainstream artists. In much the same way the kindle has the potential to actually reestablish reading in a nation of people that are used to instant gratification, and thereby could end up improving deep focus reading as an unintended side effect as people get more involved with everything from self-help guides to Voltaire.
ReplyDeleteI personally do not agree with the authors confidence on having to pay 99 cents per chapter in the future. A book is not a song you can download off of iTunes, or any other music website for that matter. Books are comprised of chapters that, if paid for individually, slow down the reading experience. For example say you download chapter 4 to a book right before entering the subway. You finish reading the chapter you just downloaded and than you realize you can't continue on to chapter 5. Why not? Because most likely you're not going to be able to download anything underground. Therefore slowing down the experience. I also highly doubt anyone will pay $100 for a 100-chapter book. Especially if the chapters ranged from 5-10 pages. When all the reader has to do is go to the book store, and pick up the same book for a significantly cheaper price.
ReplyDelete“Putting books online will also change how we find books--and talk about them.”
ReplyDeleteIn this article, the author described a whole bunch of possible ways that E-books can evolve and change the way we read. Out of all the things that he mentioned that can possibly happen, the idea that we may never be able to read books alone anymore, disturbed me the most.
When we visit sites like youtube, myspace, and facebook, everything that is posted from pictures to videos are commented on. From the good to the bad comments, they can sway how you see something. Now imagine that happening when you are reading a book.
"Think of it as a permanent, global book club...Reading books will go from being a fundamentally private activity--a direct exchange between author and reader--to a community event, with every isolated paragraph launching pad for a conversation with strangers around the world." How can an idea like that sound pleasant to anyone? I personally don't like the sound of that happening.
When you read alone, you can form opinions and make judgments on the piece from the content to the point-of-view that the author is coming from. Now imagine if this idea where to happen. Reading alone will be obsolete and you will no longer be able to do that. Your judgment would be clouded by the opinions of others.
These days everything is on the internet and nothing is private anymore. Do we really want something so private as reading to be apart of that? I don’t think so.
Steven Johnson perceives the Kindle in a positive aspect when saying that "if you have an impulse to buy a book, you can do it whenever you please with the Kindle at hand." I agree with that 100%. But he goes on saying that most people will not finish the book before going on buying, and reading the next one. He believes that having the option to own a book whenever you have the impulse to buy one will have a negative affect on how books will be read; and that I don't agree with. if you find a book interesting you are going to finish it regardless of how many opportunities you have to pick up and read another book correct? Even if one doesn't find the book interesting at one point they will suck it up, and continue reading. How can I make that assumption you ask? I can make that assumption because the people who own Kindles are most likely avid readers, and avid readers know that some books are slow to start, as well as the common knowledge that some books have areas that are not as interesting as others. With that said, I don't believe that people will be easily distracted when a book gets boring, or even when they are reminded about another interesting book they want to read. they can simply purchase the book they want to read, and read it after they are done with the one they're currently reading. Let me know your take one this section.
ReplyDeleteOne issue raised by Steve Johnson was that the Kindel "will make it easier to buy books,but at the same time make it easier to stop reading them". I don't agree with this. If you're going to buy a $300 reading machine and buy books with it, the least you would do is read the books you bought. Even though some people buy e-books on impulse as the author mentioned, they will still read the book because they were intrested and had the urge to buy the book in the first place. For example I bought a collection of classical books for my iPod all because it only cost $.99. Even though I only bought it because it was a dollar, I still ended up reading and finishing a book. Also I understand that if you buy a book and find it boring it might make you not read it, but it's not a valid reason to stop reading. All you have to is find a book that will attract your intrest.
ReplyDelete“How the E-Book will change the way we Read and Write” By Steven Johnson
ReplyDeleteSteven Johnson thinks the Kindle, one of technologies newest gadgets for reading books can be distracting.
The Kindle can easily sway your attention to the internet for any information that might pop up into your head. Unlike a book as we know it which has no mode for any other information except what’s in front of you.
I totally agree with Steven. I find myself doing the same again and again when I’m online, either on IM or reading e-mailed just received. It can be very distracting to work online with a world of information at your fingertips.
You can be reading and in the mist remembered that you need to check your e-mail for a reply you have been waiting for. While reading you can come across the name of another book and decided to find out more about it or just buy it right there and start reading. It can be even more distracting by being able to log into a discussion board online and have a discussion about the current book you are reading. Therefore, taking time away from completely immersing yourself into reading and concentrating on what you are reading.
It is a completely different experience holding a real old fashion book in your hand, totally immersing yourself into it, with the occasional looking up to take a quick look at what’s going on in your environment for a second or two, then back to reading.
Describe the relationship you have with technology as a reader or writer
ReplyDeleteTechnology blows my mind. I totally love it. I can spend hours maneuvering around all the applications on my PC.
I remembered my first PC, windows 95. I spent the whole night reading the manual, setting the font size, the background color, MS word tool bars to have all of the most used shortcuts on it. I have the patience to spend the time needed to figured out why its not complying with what I want it to do.
It can be very time consuming, there’s so much to read and to research when you are online. It can make you very antisocial if you let it, but I love it.
I agree and disagree with many of Steven Johnson's points and ideas in his article about the Kindle.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Johnson that reading on the internet is very different from reading an actual physical book. I know I can never concentrate on reading a lengthy article on the internet without doing something else simultaneously.
Johnson's idea of a "Global Book Club" is a great idea. This gives those who have low self esteem the opportunity to express their opinions about a book they may like or dislike on a public forum, something that they probably wouldn't discuss in real life.
I find Johnson's suggestion for "paying by chapter" is not only ridiculous, but unrealistic as well. How much would a digital copy of a Harry Potter book be compared to a hardcover physical copy of the book if each chapter was to be paid $0.99 for? I also feel that his reference to Napster does not prove his point whatsoever.
Overall I thought this article was quite informative. Will the Kindle really change the way we read and write? Only time can tell.
In his article, Johnson brings up the idea of E-Book readers "never reading alone." He discusses how readers will have not only easier access to any book of their choice, but also blogs for any question raised about their text. The E-Book will get rid of the whole "reding culture;" people will no longer need to visit book stores, libraries, and anything along the lines of book clubs will not exist any longer. What I got out of Johnson's article, also my biggest fear with the E-Book, is that people will become anti-social even to the extent of them being ostracized from society in a major way. People will become out of touch with social norms.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the way today's society is becoming increasingly dependent on technology is also something very alarming; it is unnatural and unnecessary. Lastly, Johnson mentions that this new device will increase impulse purchases since people will have access to any text they want with the click of a button. The E-Book is clearly just a product of today's consumer culture rather than a savior
"How the E-Book Will Change the Way We Read and Write" By Steven Johnson
ReplyDeleteIn this article, Steven Johnson points out several advantages of the Kindle. I agree with him on some points, for instance this latter "will make finding (any information) easier. However, even after exposing all the benefits of this device, he did not convince me to buy it.
Johnson mentionned that the E-Book will be the "end of reading alone". I do not agree with him, this new device will only incite people to live in a "virtual world", where people do not get to talk to each other and socialize. The E-Book will have a negative effect on today's society, which is becoming totally "dependent on technology" (Anna's words).
Moreover, we should bear in mind that books "are the most valuable archive of knowledge", therefor, we wouldn't be helping the next generations if we leave no books behind us.
To conclude, what about all the technical problems? what happens when you lose your E-Book?
In Steven Johnson's “How the E-Book Will Change the Way We Read and Write”, he elaborates his views on reading books in the present day and how easy it is to buy and read books electronically. He thinks it may be too easy through an electronic device to read books and the way we read books is quickly changing. I think the article is interesting because he shows how it is changing through time. I agree when he states the differences of reading a book online contrary to reading a book in your hands. If you buy a book online either on the computer or on your phone, your focus on the book is very limited whereas when you have the book in front of you in your hands, you have full attention and can easily understand the book. Reading a book with distractions can be difficult and he explains in the article, "Online, you can click happily from blog post to email thread to online New Yorker article -- sampling, commenting and forwarding as you go. But when you sit down with an old-fashioned book in your hand, the medium works naturally against such distractions; it compels you to follow the thread, to stay engaged with a single narrative or argument." I agree with his argument because having the ability to focus on other things while trying to read will not bring the same effect as reading a book with no distractions.
ReplyDeleteSteven Johnson's article "How the E-Book Will Change the Way We Read and Write" brings up a good quantity of effects that the new Kindle produced by Amazon. He speaks about how the world of reading will change with this new device and also that the way we read and perceive books will aslo change. I feel that with the kindle more kids wouldn't mind reading books because they're on screens which is definitely a positive effect. Yet I fear that more of the adults and teens will purchase a book from its rating which i think isn't right at all. What caught my attention was when he stated "There is great promise and opportunity in the digital-books revolution."
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with the direction in which basically everything in this world is taking, but I think that books should always remain the same. To me there's so much thought from something written on paper compared to being on a screen because screens were made for 2 main purposes. One is for communication, and the other is for entertainment. I think that books shouldn't fall in any of those categories because they're meant to either further knowlegdge on a topic or for an author to take you inside their own world.
I have mixed feelings about this article. First, I know that technology is moving forward and it will be changing everything but it's not always for the better. For one, if everyone had a kindle, there would be so many jobs eliminated. From the people who publish books, to people working at Barnes and Noble. I also feel like with books, it is not necessary to use technology because there is no way to make it better. Movies were on VHS, and went from DVD and now to Blu Ray. When you watch a movie on VHS though, you can tell a drastic difference from watching it on a DVD. The same applies to music, when you listen to a cassette, it's low quality compared to a CD even or an mp3 file. Books, however, cannot be made better because it is what it is. It's not so much the package, but what is inside of it. Personally, I don't think I could ever trade a book for a kindle, no matter how practical anyone argues that it is. The smell and feel of a book--especially a favorite one that you love to read over and over again and lend to others to enjoy-- cannot be duplicated by something by the kindle. Technology may be making everything easier, but it is also making things less personal, which I think everyone will miss in the long run.
ReplyDeleteOne of Johnson's more interesting points is that reading will never again be an activity done alone. He tells of discussions and comment systems that will be linked right down to the very sentence you're reading at any given moment. Such links will finally weave books into the architecture by which we access all other materials; the internet.
ReplyDeleteNot only do I think this is bound to happen, I think it's wonderful. Discussion is part of what makes reading interesting to me, and such an architecture will allow discussion to be on tap at any time. We've turned videos into a social activity, done the same with music, and I think it's about time books got with the picture. The ability to learn more about books you might like, discuss books you've read, and help others to learn more about books they haven't all seem like positive results of a shift in the way we do things.
This article dicusses how e book ha faciltate the way we read, in the way that we no longer have to go to the library, or barnes and nobles to purchase. Now we can actually download book as easy as a click of a button, where ever we are, and no matter the time. This invention has also lead to as reader to have social interact with other ebook users allowing them to comment on what they already read, causing a slight disturbance in between the reader and the author alone time.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion i beleieve e book has indeed revolicionized the way we read, because it has made our lifes easy, and fast. Ebook also, as the author said provides its own social cycle which you can comment on what you read that maybe good or bad, depending on a persons opinion.
When it comes to the online experience of a book, I feel that nothing can compare to the shared companion ship you have when you read online with thousands of people reading along side with you. As Steven Johnson says “Reading books will go from being a fundamentally private activity, to a direct exchange between author and reader.” We come to understand from this article that reading with the kindle expands the way we think and read. It helps us understand more because of the resources that are now available to us. As mentioned in the article categorizing, indexing, and ranking pages, sections, or even sentences can help us the readers understand and look beyond what the author is writing. This new online activity of reading shows us that we are not alone when reading, even though it takes away the social aspects of reading, of actually getting up and going to places where they actually discuss the book word for word. People can now stay at home and with a few clicks of a mouse or touches on a pad explore another realm of reading. I feel that the steps that we are taking towards digitalizing text is phenomenal, for the simple fact of how easy its going to be to access information no matter where you are. I see the Kindle being the first step on a long road to revolutionize the way we read.
ReplyDeleteAs stated by the New York Times, it will cost less to buy each of their subscribers a Kindle instead continue printing out newspapers. Even though many jobs will be lost from a Kindle being a substitution.I think this will benefit more pros the cons. For starters the Kindle will create many jobs for technicians by creating apps and more Kindles of course. As we saw with the sensation of the Iphone, many apps and games where created for the new entertainment. Authors wouldn't have to pay for advertisement for books as their books get universally talked about in the vast world of the web through blogs and reviews.
ReplyDeleteThis will also help our environment, by stopping the extreme killing of trees . We throw away 44 million newspapers out daily, and only 20 million are recycled. Which is equivalent to 500,000 trees thrown in a landfill weekly. It will encourage us to read more by becoming a new hip trend where people will rave about it in their spare time and you would want to experience the joy of reading as well.
What does concern me about the Kindle is that our generation would get even more lazier and non self reliant. We would not find it essential to g to the library or go to reader's circle but instead hit the search tab button or go to book chats .I am also afraid that the Kindle will lose the essence of the book, books will be looked upon as a device instead of something inspirational and its time and work will be less unvalued. Instead of it being an improvement i think it will set us back because the world will be use to too much convenience that we will lack the ability to do things on our own.