One of the questions that fascinated me, that I didn't mind learning a little more about and which I pleasingly got correct, was question 8:
When some aspect of your life or situation that was yours, in which you participated out of Joy, becomes not yours- becomes something foreign to you - you experience;
a. alienation
I initially wondered why this question was on our diagnostic test of basic facts that we were expected to know. Are Marks and Snyder telling us we should recognize when we are being alienated. Or is alienation a far more reoccurring part of history then I realized?
Then I thought it was an odd definition since I saw alienation as being an ambiguous concept with elusive meanings.
When I typed in alienation into the google search engine, of course the first link that popped up was wikipedia who defines alienation as "The legal transfer of title of ownership to another party." Sounds about right. And then it clicked how much alienation had existed in the past, including by our very own country.
Arthur Miller once said "without alienation, there can be no politics."
Eugene Tonesco one said "There is no religion in which everyday life is not considered a prison; there is no philosophy or ideology that does not think that we live in alienation."
My favorite link introduced me to Marx's theory of alienation. Another wikipedia site said that the theory as expressed in the writings and manuscripts or Karl Marx's, refers to the separation of things that naturally belong together, or to put antagonism between things that are properly in harmony.
He believed that alienation is a systematic result of capitalism. This also confused me. The United states is a capitalist country and has been since the start. But we are guilty for Alienating the Native Americans out of their land to make way for a Christian based society far different then the way of life they had carried out. We turned America into something one group of people wanted instead of letting it become what it may have been destined to me. We interfered with what was already working with something that still has countless issues today.
Ludwig Andreas von Feuerbach, a German philosopher and anthropologist argues that the idea of God has alienated the characteristics of the human being. What a wild thought, something that sparks a lot of second guessing on my own belief's and why I act a certain way and have the morals that I do. Like we discuss in Mr. Manley's class referring to Banach's lecture, people act a certain way to please god and in order to reserve a spot in heaven. But had it not been for God, would people act differently? Does God own us more then we own ourselves? Is it the power we think God posses over us that limits us to the natural wonders of the world we don't justify as good or pure?
One other link was one of an "Alienation Test" which I figure are for those who feel out of place in society and are unable to figure out where they fit in. This made me wonder if people alienate other people, or if they purposely alienate themselves? We all have the option of giving into the conformity of fashion trends and digital fads, but are we somewhat alienating ourselves by choosing not to conform? The questions on the test seem like ones a therapist would ask of a suicidal patient
The test:
http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/alientest.html
When something becomes foreign to us, we are experiencing alienation. Huh.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Hw # 15: Comments
Whats good Evan? Long time...
I haven't seen your blog in a while but it appears your up to date with all of the assignments which makes this much easier for me, thank you.
What I enjoined most about this particular post was how intriguing and interesting articles you had that suggested some original ideas I hadn't thought much about myself. I like the topic you chose, I agree that cell phones were one of the first and most important of all the gadgets in the digitalization phenomena.
One of my necessities is definitely my cell phone, and I found it so weird that your first article claimed that "according to a 2004 MIT survey cell phones were the most hated invention that people can't live without." I guess its never dawned on me how irritating cell phones can be when they are being observed from a different perspective. As an individual I rely on my cell phone for safety, responsibilities and socializing. But at times when I have to bare to listen to another person yack on their cell phones, I grow increasingly annoyed, and I'm sure other people have thought the same of me.
This reminds me of something a friend of mine who doesn't have a cell phone at the moment once said to me. She was referring to another woman on the bus with a phone, and how tortuous it was for her to listen to someone enjoying a gadget that she could not. I know that I need an escape from my souroundings sometimes, and how incomplete and uncomfortable I feel if I don't have the option of zoning out with the help of an upbeat song or friendly text message.
One thing you did well in this post was share articles with various themes and big idea's. I like how you first article listen was a bit more broad that discussed some of the qualities of a cell phone and their users. Then you have an article about the advantages of a cell phone like in an emergency, and a following article about the health risks.
I was thinking, you may want to go into more detail about what valuable information there was in the second and third article, or perhaps found another article that discussed the advantages of cell phones since the one you had was quite short.
I also didn't really like the last article you had since it was so boring and somewhat off topic. I think it would have been cool if you had a few youtube clips of outrageous cell phone commercials emphasizing how cut throat the industry has become to win over customers.
Reading this post, I wonder how long I could go without a cell phone. Whether I would feel dysfunctional without it of just resort to relaying on friends phones for communication. You've certainly helped me realize what an addiction and overall attachment I have to my phone and how although I find it mostly useful it could slowly be causing a brain tumor in my head. For some reason, knowing this information I don't think it would stop me from using it.
Maybe we can further try to understand why?
See ya in class :)
I haven't seen your blog in a while but it appears your up to date with all of the assignments which makes this much easier for me, thank you.
What I enjoined most about this particular post was how intriguing and interesting articles you had that suggested some original ideas I hadn't thought much about myself. I like the topic you chose, I agree that cell phones were one of the first and most important of all the gadgets in the digitalization phenomena.
One of my necessities is definitely my cell phone, and I found it so weird that your first article claimed that "according to a 2004 MIT survey cell phones were the most hated invention that people can't live without." I guess its never dawned on me how irritating cell phones can be when they are being observed from a different perspective. As an individual I rely on my cell phone for safety, responsibilities and socializing. But at times when I have to bare to listen to another person yack on their cell phones, I grow increasingly annoyed, and I'm sure other people have thought the same of me.
This reminds me of something a friend of mine who doesn't have a cell phone at the moment once said to me. She was referring to another woman on the bus with a phone, and how tortuous it was for her to listen to someone enjoying a gadget that she could not. I know that I need an escape from my souroundings sometimes, and how incomplete and uncomfortable I feel if I don't have the option of zoning out with the help of an upbeat song or friendly text message.
One thing you did well in this post was share articles with various themes and big idea's. I like how you first article listen was a bit more broad that discussed some of the qualities of a cell phone and their users. Then you have an article about the advantages of a cell phone like in an emergency, and a following article about the health risks.
I was thinking, you may want to go into more detail about what valuable information there was in the second and third article, or perhaps found another article that discussed the advantages of cell phones since the one you had was quite short.
I also didn't really like the last article you had since it was so boring and somewhat off topic. I think it would have been cool if you had a few youtube clips of outrageous cell phone commercials emphasizing how cut throat the industry has become to win over customers.
Reading this post, I wonder how long I could go without a cell phone. Whether I would feel dysfunctional without it of just resort to relaying on friends phones for communication. You've certainly helped me realize what an addiction and overall attachment I have to my phone and how although I find it mostly useful it could slowly be causing a brain tumor in my head. For some reason, knowing this information I don't think it would stop me from using it.
Maybe we can further try to understand why?
See ya in class :)
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Hw # 14:Second Text
Long Excerpt: Everything Bad is Good for You By Steven Johnson
Johnson starts off his book with a common comparison in today's society of books to video games. He uses a successful technique of reversing the attitude toward each of the activities to highlight how societies opinion are largely effected by figuring which act came before the other. Its entertaining how he argues that reading is an isolated act of antisocial oblivion while video games helps those interact with one another more easily.
Its clear though that he is just mocking the younger generation by claiming video games have higher rewards and less consequences that reading, although seemingly comparable. He boldly claims that the information conveyed by the book and the mental work you have to go through to process and store information helps the mind exercise its ability to concentrate, make sense of the words while following a complex plot.
The problem is that people are less likely to devote such effort and focus into reading a book when a video game is so much more entertaining and welcoming, keeping the player engaged and mesmerized. Johnson talks about how easy it is for a seven year old to pick up information from a game as opposed to if he were in a class where he would most likely be asleep within five seconds of a lecture.
On page 34, Johnson goes into anargument that I found to be most accurate. Gaming systems seem to tap into the brains
THIS IS NOT FINISHED, TO DEFINITELY BE CONTINUED
The problem is that people are less likely to devote such effort and focus into reading a book when a video game is so much more entertaining and welcoming, keeping the player engaged and mesmerized. Johnson talks about how easy it is for a seven year old to pick up information from a game as opposed to if he were in a class where he would most likely be asleep within five seconds of a lecture.
On page 34, Johnson goes into anargument that I found to be most accurate. Gaming systems seem to tap into the brains
THIS IS NOT FINISHED, TO DEFINITELY BE CONTINUED
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Hw #13: Feed B, b
I really enjoy reading books that make me rethink what I originally thought I knew well about. This is exactly what many artists strive to do through various forms of art.
M.T. Anderson does this by highlighting in his book Feed how little people rebel against their comfortable lifestyles. Most of the characters in the book hardly question the Feed because it already provides everything they could ever want or desire with just a twitch in their brain.
Like we discussed in class, everyone gives into some kind of conformity and we consider an enlightened person to be someone who isn't afraid to be different no matter the circumstances.
It obvious how hard it is to be different without being judged, criticized and overall put down for not following the norm. I got from the book that independent thought comes with grave consequences, like when Violet was denied a loan for a surgery to fix her malfunctions because her shopping record didn't match the one of a typical teenager. A lot of norms are developed because a majority of common minded people agree that it works, disproving of anything that may threaten the stability.
It seems to me that people accept the life they choose to settle into too easily. What we're told and what we believe shouldn't always be the same.
Anderson was able to make this message more effective by using an realistic yet imaginative allegory readers can relate to easily, yet are also repulsed by.
He was able to twist a luxury the characters value greatly into something that destroys them. Titus is a empty-headed teenage boy who narrates the story and solely driven by trends and shopping and the avid pursuit of being consistently entertained.
Through his book, Anderson mocks the lifestyle people so naturally conform to, and what others who don't have, strive to achieve. But because of this, readers are forced to rethink their own priorities and can't help but compare their lives to those of the characters. In this, I want what ever my art becomes, to create something that embodies truth but also creative original thought as well.
I want my art to be both a mirror and a hammer. I want to reflect life in art as a way to capture it and hold onto it forever. But I also want to shape and provoke thoughts for others through the art, by using a hammer that can drastically change what people see. To me, its important to appreciate what we have, yet challenge it at the same time, just like Anderson did.
M.T. Anderson does this by highlighting in his book Feed how little people rebel against their comfortable lifestyles. Most of the characters in the book hardly question the Feed because it already provides everything they could ever want or desire with just a twitch in their brain.
Like we discussed in class, everyone gives into some kind of conformity and we consider an enlightened person to be someone who isn't afraid to be different no matter the circumstances.
It obvious how hard it is to be different without being judged, criticized and overall put down for not following the norm. I got from the book that independent thought comes with grave consequences, like when Violet was denied a loan for a surgery to fix her malfunctions because her shopping record didn't match the one of a typical teenager. A lot of norms are developed because a majority of common minded people agree that it works, disproving of anything that may threaten the stability.
It seems to me that people accept the life they choose to settle into too easily. What we're told and what we believe shouldn't always be the same.
Anderson was able to make this message more effective by using an realistic yet imaginative allegory readers can relate to easily, yet are also repulsed by.
He was able to twist a luxury the characters value greatly into something that destroys them. Titus is a empty-headed teenage boy who narrates the story and solely driven by trends and shopping and the avid pursuit of being consistently entertained.
Through his book, Anderson mocks the lifestyle people so naturally conform to, and what others who don't have, strive to achieve. But because of this, readers are forced to rethink their own priorities and can't help but compare their lives to those of the characters. In this, I want what ever my art becomes, to create something that embodies truth but also creative original thought as well.
I want my art to be both a mirror and a hammer. I want to reflect life in art as a way to capture it and hold onto it forever. But I also want to shape and provoke thoughts for others through the art, by using a hammer that can drastically change what people see. To me, its important to appreciate what we have, yet challenge it at the same time, just like Anderson did.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
HW # 12: Feed Ayyyyya
From the first chapter, Feed by M.T. Anderson has done a good job of using a futuristic analogy to show comparisons between how the digital interference has effected this generation.
Titus and his friends possessed an attitude that reminds me a lot of my peers and I, especially when we're together in cliques or groups. Groups of teenagers travel in packs, partying, experimenting with drugs and participating in latest trends together, relying on one another for approval and recognition.
As a generation, we like to speak as a whole and usually reference broad things with one subject. For instance when Titus says "everything at home was boring." It is such a teenage attitude to be increasingly bored with the same old thing, growing tiresome of routine and repetition.
Its also common for people, especially young Americans these days, to dislike countries or continents as a whole, not referencing on specific city or aspect they disliked. This in a lot of senses makes us somewhat ignorant. For instance, when Titus says "Yeah I've been to Mars... it was Dumb"
The way the Feed customizes people's "personal profiles" in order to know what they like and dislike reminds me of a computerized program called "cookie"; information that a web site stores so that it can remember something about you at a later time. Basically, it is information for future use that is saved by the server on the client side of communication so that they can suggest similar sites they think you would enjoy. A feature in the new nano iPods called genius remind me of this too, since when you buy one song, iTunes refers you to several other songs just like it.
It makes me think of how everything is a marketing opportunity thanks to all the digital representation, even when we're not looking to be pitched to, we subconsciously are. Everything is a marketing opportunity and in order to make this economy go around nicely we must be good little consumers and be up to date with the latest trends and must need fads to spend money on. Everyone wants to mimic someone else, just like Quendy got the Lesions all over her body because it was considered "hip". To me, piercings and tattoo's are the lesions of today, holes and scars inserted all throughout our bodies to prove how retro and hardcore we are.
Like Violet mentioned in reference to the feed, our devices are coming to know us better then we do.
One of my favorite quotes was when Titus discussed Violets opinion about apprehension and valuing what doesn't come easily. "She said she had a theory that everything was better if you delayed it. She had this whole thing about self-control, ok, and the importance of self control."
I think there isn't a better way to describe how much this generation needs to practice doing this. It seems to me a lot comes to easy to people, whether its money, information or communicating. We mostly expect things to be fast and efficient, yet what its not we grow increasingly frustrated and impatient. One quality a lot of people these days lack is apprciation, because a good thing can't last forever... "It makes good times even better when you know there going to end."
The most obviously tragic part of the book was how Violet- the rebellious outcast- only got the Feed with intentions of leading a more normal life, only going to the moon to fit in with what society considered hip. What made it a tragedy was that the one person who valued the feed the most was the very same one who died from it.
What makes matters worse was that because of the Feed, Titus was unable to fully be in touch with his emotions and therefore lacked the sensitivity needed to help Violet through her last days. It wasn't until she had completely malfunctioned that he understood Violets struggle and how she was ultimately defeated by the very thing she was trying to resist.
Its ironic how Titus said in chapter one how he's "hoping to meet someone one the moon." He did, and he lost her just the same.
Titus and his friends possessed an attitude that reminds me a lot of my peers and I, especially when we're together in cliques or groups. Groups of teenagers travel in packs, partying, experimenting with drugs and participating in latest trends together, relying on one another for approval and recognition.
As a generation, we like to speak as a whole and usually reference broad things with one subject. For instance when Titus says "everything at home was boring." It is such a teenage attitude to be increasingly bored with the same old thing, growing tiresome of routine and repetition.
Its also common for people, especially young Americans these days, to dislike countries or continents as a whole, not referencing on specific city or aspect they disliked. This in a lot of senses makes us somewhat ignorant. For instance, when Titus says "Yeah I've been to Mars... it was Dumb"
The way the Feed customizes people's "personal profiles" in order to know what they like and dislike reminds me of a computerized program called "cookie"; information that a web site stores so that it can remember something about you at a later time. Basically, it is information for future use that is saved by the server on the client side of communication so that they can suggest similar sites they think you would enjoy. A feature in the new nano iPods called genius remind me of this too, since when you buy one song, iTunes refers you to several other songs just like it.
It makes me think of how everything is a marketing opportunity thanks to all the digital representation, even when we're not looking to be pitched to, we subconsciously are. Everything is a marketing opportunity and in order to make this economy go around nicely we must be good little consumers and be up to date with the latest trends and must need fads to spend money on. Everyone wants to mimic someone else, just like Quendy got the Lesions all over her body because it was considered "hip". To me, piercings and tattoo's are the lesions of today, holes and scars inserted all throughout our bodies to prove how retro and hardcore we are.
Like Violet mentioned in reference to the feed, our devices are coming to know us better then we do.
One of my favorite quotes was when Titus discussed Violets opinion about apprehension and valuing what doesn't come easily. "She said she had a theory that everything was better if you delayed it. She had this whole thing about self-control, ok, and the importance of self control."
I think there isn't a better way to describe how much this generation needs to practice doing this. It seems to me a lot comes to easy to people, whether its money, information or communicating. We mostly expect things to be fast and efficient, yet what its not we grow increasingly frustrated and impatient. One quality a lot of people these days lack is apprciation, because a good thing can't last forever... "It makes good times even better when you know there going to end."
The most obviously tragic part of the book was how Violet- the rebellious outcast- only got the Feed with intentions of leading a more normal life, only going to the moon to fit in with what society considered hip. What made it a tragedy was that the one person who valued the feed the most was the very same one who died from it.
What makes matters worse was that because of the Feed, Titus was unable to fully be in touch with his emotions and therefore lacked the sensitivity needed to help Violet through her last days. It wasn't until she had completely malfunctioned that he understood Violets struggle and how she was ultimately defeated by the very thing she was trying to resist.
Its ironic how Titus said in chapter one how he's "hoping to meet someone one the moon." He did, and he lost her just the same.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Hw #11: Self Experiment
For this assignment I felt the most drastic and effective way to test my relationship with digital media was to take myself off of Facebook.
I usually check my email vigorously; not to hear from my college advisers or internship boss, but to check if I got notifications on Facebook.
So as of last Monday (its been exactly one week today) I have deactivated my Facebook account. I didn't delete it completely because I didn't want to lose all my precious pictures and video's I've been tagged in over the last four years, but also because its a comforting feeling that I could reappear on facebook if I ever wanted.
The time I would usually spend on facebook has been dedicated to educating myself in some way or form. Mostly I've just been reading the New York Times that my family prescribes to or reading a book. This week I've finished Its Kind of a Funny Story by Ned because of all the extra time I had, and am on to another book of his. I'm not really watching T.V. as much either because it feels like a waste unless I am on the computer at the same time talking to someone. I though I would be sranw to watching television more, but now I get lonely watching T.V. by myself and so its less appealing without being on facebook chat.
I've also been going on blogger more cruzing though other peoples blog and writing in my journal more. I've been home sick for most of this week, which has been hard to bare without the luxury of seeing what other people are doing through facebook. But surprisingly I was more at ease and less concerned with what I was missing out on. I was able to focus more on myself and cared less about what other people were doing. My journal entries were more insightful and well thought out as opposed to the entries of complaints I usually write about.
I've been looking to my family more for companionship and only talk to the people who I've really close to on the phone or on AIM. Some time away from the social networking world has been a sort of epiphany. I really don't need to be connected to people all the time. Although I still itch to check my mini feeds and newest pictures, a part of me knows that nothing has really changed on Facebook and a little time away won't make much of a difference. Right now I still have the urge to reactivate my account, especially on the weekend, but I figure the longer I go without it the easier it will get to restrain myself from checking it.
In conclusion, we CAN survive without certain digital media, we just choose not to because its easier and supposedly more entertaining.
Digital Fast Continued:
I felt that my time away from facebook could be more of a benefit to my self progress this semester in addition to my grade in history.
So I have continued to leave my facebook deactivated and will do so until I take my SAT in Novemeber.
Since I deactivated my account two weeks ago, I have been doing a lot more College Research and SAT studying. I don't think I've ever spent so much time consistently working. I go from school work to Internship work to SAT studying with small breaks from my iPod or a book.
I've realized that facebook was the most time consuming of all my other digital distractions, YES even including the television. Without digital networking I am less in the loop with must see T.V. and fad television, and therefore care lees about what shows are on.
I do order the occasional Curb episode on HBO and take time on Thursday evening to watch the office, but lounge on my couch with my remote cruising through the channels LESS and pick up a magazine or paper more.
I am more at ease, less anxious to go on the computer and overall pleased that I no longer have to check the pictures taken of me to see if they are eligible for facebook.
Lets see just how long I can go before I am badgered to update my profile, hopefully not until prom.
I usually check my email vigorously; not to hear from my college advisers or internship boss, but to check if I got notifications on Facebook.
So as of last Monday (its been exactly one week today) I have deactivated my Facebook account. I didn't delete it completely because I didn't want to lose all my precious pictures and video's I've been tagged in over the last four years, but also because its a comforting feeling that I could reappear on facebook if I ever wanted.
The time I would usually spend on facebook has been dedicated to educating myself in some way or form. Mostly I've just been reading the New York Times that my family prescribes to or reading a book. This week I've finished Its Kind of a Funny Story by Ned because of all the extra time I had, and am on to another book of his. I'm not really watching T.V. as much either because it feels like a waste unless I am on the computer at the same time talking to someone. I though I would be sranw to watching television more, but now I get lonely watching T.V. by myself and so its less appealing without being on facebook chat.
I've also been going on blogger more cruzing though other peoples blog and writing in my journal more. I've been home sick for most of this week, which has been hard to bare without the luxury of seeing what other people are doing through facebook. But surprisingly I was more at ease and less concerned with what I was missing out on. I was able to focus more on myself and cared less about what other people were doing. My journal entries were more insightful and well thought out as opposed to the entries of complaints I usually write about.
I've been looking to my family more for companionship and only talk to the people who I've really close to on the phone or on AIM. Some time away from the social networking world has been a sort of epiphany. I really don't need to be connected to people all the time. Although I still itch to check my mini feeds and newest pictures, a part of me knows that nothing has really changed on Facebook and a little time away won't make much of a difference. Right now I still have the urge to reactivate my account, especially on the weekend, but I figure the longer I go without it the easier it will get to restrain myself from checking it.
In conclusion, we CAN survive without certain digital media, we just choose not to because its easier and supposedly more entertaining.
Digital Fast Continued:
I felt that my time away from facebook could be more of a benefit to my self progress this semester in addition to my grade in history.
So I have continued to leave my facebook deactivated and will do so until I take my SAT in Novemeber.
Since I deactivated my account two weeks ago, I have been doing a lot more College Research and SAT studying. I don't think I've ever spent so much time consistently working. I go from school work to Internship work to SAT studying with small breaks from my iPod or a book.
I've realized that facebook was the most time consuming of all my other digital distractions, YES even including the television. Without digital networking I am less in the loop with must see T.V. and fad television, and therefore care lees about what shows are on.
I do order the occasional Curb episode on HBO and take time on Thursday evening to watch the office, but lounge on my couch with my remote cruising through the channels LESS and pick up a magazine or paper more.
I am more at ease, less anxious to go on the computer and overall pleased that I no longer have to check the pictures taken of me to see if they are eligible for facebook.
Lets see just how long I can go before I am badgered to update my profile, hopefully not until prom.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Hw #10: Digitalization; the future
For this assignment I decided I'd rather look into what may be the next big fad as opposed to researching the current ones I already know so much about.
Its called the Kindle.
The first version of the Kindle was released in the United States on November 19, 2007.
According to Wikipedia the Kindle is a software and hardware platform developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 for reading e-books and other digital media. You can download any and multiple books on the Kindle that weighs next to nothing and is easy to store in you bag. Three hardware devices, known as "Kindle", "Kindle 2," and "Kindle DX" support this platform, as does an iPhone application called "Kindle for iPhone".
For a preview of the Kindle, there are video advertisements on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B00154JDAI/ref=amb_link_85647731_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=0F7VT5NMQBWN17AGB9DW&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=493724391&pf_rd_i=507846
The Kindle's official site is also on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=4470344697&ref=pd_sl_a6eh7sgtv_e
In the New York Times, the article gives a little bio on the Kindle and the phenomena of electronic book readers:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/k/kindle/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Kindle&st=cse
Another New York Times article by David Pogue shines a light on the Kindle's lead against the competition thanks to its wireless connection and amazing incorporation of pages in a book. Its almost exactly like reading the book, same font and length, except on a thin and light screen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/technology/personaltech/24pogue.html?_r=1
My favorite article is also from the New York Times by Sara Nelson, she reffers to the uprising of the kindel's popularity as being "In this honeymoon period of Kindle" since not a lot of people have them yet. What iPods are to music lovers, the kindle is to readers and she highlights this in her article. She discusses what the Kindle means to the publishing world and how there are many wiriters and journalists who aren't so fond of the idea of people no longger reading paper versions of literature but instead dedicating more time to keepig their heads in a screeen. Like Kurt Anderson said in this Article “Do you lose all kinds of wonderful things about seeing the physical book?”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/fashion/26kindle.html?fta=y
These articles were so interesting since I had vaugely heard of the Kindle but never looked into what they actually were or how they worked. I've got a glimps of one once in person, from afar, replacing where a newspaper may have been in a buisness mans hand on the bus. For so long I've heard the complaints of electronics taking place of people reading books and papers, and now it seems manufactorers have come to a high tech compromise.
I wonder how humanity will change if every person is not only loaded with a cell phone, iPod and camera everywhere they go, but perhaps a kindle too. Will there be any reason for people to talke to each other anymore???
Its called the Kindle.
The first version of the Kindle was released in the United States on November 19, 2007.
According to Wikipedia the Kindle is a software and hardware platform developed by Amazon.com subsidiary Lab126 for reading e-books and other digital media. You can download any and multiple books on the Kindle that weighs next to nothing and is easy to store in you bag. Three hardware devices, known as "Kindle", "Kindle 2," and "Kindle DX" support this platform, as does an iPhone application called "Kindle for iPhone".
For a preview of the Kindle, there are video advertisements on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/Kindle-Wireless-Reading-Display-Generation/dp/B00154JDAI/ref=amb_link_85647731_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=gateway-center-column&pf_rd_r=0F7VT5NMQBWN17AGB9DW&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=493724391&pf_rd_i=507846
The Kindle's official site is also on Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0015T963C/?tag=googhydr-20&hvadid=4470344697&ref=pd_sl_a6eh7sgtv_e
In the New York Times, the article gives a little bio on the Kindle and the phenomena of electronic book readers:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/k/kindle/index.html?scp=1-spot&sq=Kindle&st=cse
Another New York Times article by David Pogue shines a light on the Kindle's lead against the competition thanks to its wireless connection and amazing incorporation of pages in a book. Its almost exactly like reading the book, same font and length, except on a thin and light screen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/technology/personaltech/24pogue.html?_r=1
My favorite article is also from the New York Times by Sara Nelson, she reffers to the uprising of the kindel's popularity as being "In this honeymoon period of Kindle" since not a lot of people have them yet. What iPods are to music lovers, the kindle is to readers and she highlights this in her article. She discusses what the Kindle means to the publishing world and how there are many wiriters and journalists who aren't so fond of the idea of people no longger reading paper versions of literature but instead dedicating more time to keepig their heads in a screeen. Like Kurt Anderson said in this Article “Do you lose all kinds of wonderful things about seeing the physical book?”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/fashion/26kindle.html?fta=y
These articles were so interesting since I had vaugely heard of the Kindle but never looked into what they actually were or how they worked. I've got a glimps of one once in person, from afar, replacing where a newspaper may have been in a buisness mans hand on the bus. For so long I've heard the complaints of electronics taking place of people reading books and papers, and now it seems manufactorers have come to a high tech compromise.
I wonder how humanity will change if every person is not only loaded with a cell phone, iPod and camera everywhere they go, but perhaps a kindle too. Will there be any reason for people to talke to each other anymore???
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