I will say something in favour of my iPad screen. I’m an old codger who used to read some 100 books a year, but now I appreciate a lit screen where I can change the font size. I’m also having to give away books where the font is too small and / or lines too closely spaced for me to read. I haven’t quite reconciled myself to e-books, but it seems to be coming.
How the amazing polymaths who had to read by candlelight coped, I don’t know!
Screens do make certain things easier in some cases. That is yet another reason for the advancement of technology. Abstaining from technology offers no force against it, and even a small number supporting it through buying it offers a great force for it to move forward. That, combined with the fact that the larger effects of technology over vast periods of time are ignored, and the fact that the short-term gains are immediately felt, also makes technology seem like an improvement overall.
This entire thing of course is not unique to iPads and screens. Every sort of technology advances forward this way. Now of course, this computer I am using for instance offers some great benefits for me: I can edit my photos and look up vast amounts of information. Without it, I couldn't. But this also ignore the fact that without computers, there would be more alternatives too, if not so efficient, at least possibly as satisfying (such as more resources for film photographers and various encyclopedias, and possibly even more public libraries).
One must never examine technology on an atomic, short-term basis, but as part of a greater moving web that threatens to suffocate us all.
I will say something in favour of my iPad screen. I’m an old codger who used to read some 100 books a year, but now I appreciate a lit screen where I can change the font size. I’m also having to give away books where the font is too small and / or lines too closely spaced for me to read. I haven’t quite reconciled myself to e-books, but it seems to be coming.
How the amazing polymaths who had to read by candlelight coped, I don’t know!
Screens have their uses …
But my iPhone lives mostly in a drawer.
Screens do make certain things easier in some cases. That is yet another reason for the advancement of technology. Abstaining from technology offers no force against it, and even a small number supporting it through buying it offers a great force for it to move forward. That, combined with the fact that the larger effects of technology over vast periods of time are ignored, and the fact that the short-term gains are immediately felt, also makes technology seem like an improvement overall.
This entire thing of course is not unique to iPads and screens. Every sort of technology advances forward this way. Now of course, this computer I am using for instance offers some great benefits for me: I can edit my photos and look up vast amounts of information. Without it, I couldn't. But this also ignore the fact that without computers, there would be more alternatives too, if not so efficient, at least possibly as satisfying (such as more resources for film photographers and various encyclopedias, and possibly even more public libraries).
One must never examine technology on an atomic, short-term basis, but as part of a greater moving web that threatens to suffocate us all.