I saw a woman using the new Sony Digital Book Reader on the train the other night. I have to admit, I was that creepy person leaning to read over her shoulder. It can hold between 80 and 160 full e-books (including graphic novels). Sony claims the new E-ink screen mimics real pages and is easier to read. As I understand it, you can search your collection by author, title, and date. You can save multiple bookmarks in different texts, take notes, copy and highlight, and combine notes from different texts. What does this mean for literacy? I can't imagine that the comfort of waking up and reading a good book in bed will be replaced with this digital format... but it could easily change the notion of what it means to have, or own, a library. I can imagine having all the texts I need for all my class in this one, little, light-weight device. (If all the textbooks and printed articles I've collected over the years were stored this way, it would certainly make moving apartments a lot easier). What will this mean for students? For learning? For authoring? The list goes on. I DO know that once I'm not on a student budget, I certainly want one!
I've been thinking about these devices lately; Amazon promotes the 'Kindle' which looks similar. Like you mention in your post, I can't really imagine curling up with one of these, but who knows? At least the backlit screen let's one read with the lights out.
ReplyDeleteHey Eric,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the post! I know what you mean. I can't imagine the digital reader replacing all the worn out books I've read over and over. But, I also couldn't imagine owning a cellphone (now I feel vulnerable without it) and I couldn't imagine watching TV on my computer (now I prefer it). Maybe this will be another one of those things. Especially as a student… how great would it be to have all the texts you need for all your classes uploaded right at the start of the semester?! See you in class tonight!