...by itself is infinitesimal, although once the grains are combined they can stop a 500,000 DWT (deadweight tonnage) seafaring ship. The same goes for technology, as one grain bonds with another, it eventually becomes an impenetrable barrier. Blocking us? no stopping us from interacting with our fellow human beings.
One man's idea/vision can start the cascade, similar to grains of sand...
Reading a book (an actual book, you know with paper pages) can be one of the greatest joys in our lives. In the past, you would go to your local library and interact with the staff. Learning of interesting new books, or maybe becoming excited with the knowledge of a dusty unheard of jem, stacked in a corner that the librarian had recommended. 'Cause, well you know, if you're a librarian you love to read. Otherwise why would you be working in a library?
Using the card catalog was touchy feely and somewhat exciting as you learned the Dewey Decimal System. Fingering your way through all the cards in search of your next treasure. As you are searching, standing beside you was another avid reader, searching for their next gem. Perhaps they even share your interests, and maybe you both open up a dialog about why you read, and what you have read.
Or maybe you had a friend that owned a used book store? and loved to talk with you about your joys and passions. They would then take the time to help you build your own library. Yes your own library, one that fills as many walls, shelves, table tops, and stacks on the floor as you can muster up.
Interaction
Self
Fellow human being
Is there any enjoyment in the fact that you talked with someone? Learning about them, maybe even laughing with them about common interests, beliefs and or likes/dislikes?
Yes
Interaction
Fellow human being
Today, more and more people type into their favorite form of technology, and search digitally for what interests them.
Interaction
Self
Technology
You are locked into your private little world that is infinite. What ever you can think of is accessible. Though you do not have the interaction of another human being, just you alone and tech.
Interaction
Self
Technology
You are locked into your public/private world that is infinite. Whatever you can think of and or talk about with another person is infinite.
Interaction
Self
Fellow human being
The book
Has mass
Has weight
It has a feel, a smell, sometimes maybe a look of wear. Possibly a food or coffee stain, a dog eared page (bad reading etiquette, bad bad bad) maybe someone wrote in pencil their initials, and when they read it (poor reading etiquette) or the grammar corrections made, (hopefully in pencil) by someone who lacks self esteem and wants to prove they are better than the editor/writer... What a book has that you can see and feel, is social interaction with other people from the past.
Technology
No mass
No weight
It really has no weight, it's in the "cloud"...There is no history of another human using this e-book, other than the reviews. There are no stains, dog eared pages, nothing to hold onto and touch as you turn a page. Holding a tablet or phone and brushing your finger across the screen is not the same as holding a book.
Reviews
In a library, book store, and or talking to another avid reader, you discuss the book you want to read and or have read. Social interaction, not a review that you read on your device.
Once
You would have to go to the librarian at the counter. Handing her/him the book you wanted to check out; they would remove the checkout card from the book, and then hand stamp the return date. You would sign the card, the librarian would then put the card back into the sleeve (inside the cover) and off you went. Curiosity would lead you to look at the checkout card, wondering if you would recognize someone from your community that might have your same interests.
Interacting the whole time and learning more about a fellow human being. Once you read the book, or maybe you did not finish the book, you took it back, handed it to the librarian at the counter. They would check the card inside to make sure it was returned on time and off you went. If it was late, well you had to pay a fine, usually pennies...
Today
The process of actually checking out a book and returning the read book has been changed forever by technology. Your book that you reserved online is on a shelf, saved and marked alphabetically by your last name. You then take the book to a self check out computer. The technology scans your library card, the book, and askes if you want a receipt, all by touch screen. Social interaction, none... Then to return the book, once you're notified electronically that it is due, you just drive by and drop it in a slot with no interaction.
How has technology made reading a book better?
How has A to Z forever changed how human beings interact?
Is all technology good and needed?
Is going onto the internet to find something to read best?
The movie Logan's Run comes to mind. This was a cult classic from the mid 1970's. During a scene an old man (Peter Ustinov) was talking with Logan about books in a world that was overtaken with technology controlling every part of people's lives. Logan (Michael York) figured out how to break through tech and regain social interaction with real human beings...
W
No comments:
Post a Comment