Technology and the Book World

I tend to be a fan of technology. Very little intimidates me and I'm usually willing to try new things. I remember growing up and getting our very first VCR. I can't remember exactly how old I was, but I was the one programming the clock so it wouldn't blink 12:00 all the time. I think I remember hooking it up to the television as well. Even to this day, I'm often over at my parents' house showing them how to do something on the computer or fixing a new electronic device they bought.

In college I was all about the Internet and e-mail, and it was nothing like what we have today! When I taught I constantly looked for ways to integrate technology into my classes. I am a fan of technology.

I've mentioned before that I have nothing against the new e-readers that are coming out. If I could afford it, I might even have one myself. It'll never replace the print book for me, though. As long as they keep making them, I'll ALWAYS own and read print books.

BUT, here's the device that I don't think I'll ever use to read my books...the cell phone. It absolutely baffles me that people would want to read on their cell phones. When I first heard this I thought, "wow! They worked so hard to make phones small, are they going to start making them bigger again?" Now granted, I don't like using my phone for what it was originally created to do, so that doesn't help, but I still don't understand WHY? The biggest argument for using a cell phone to read seems to be that people don't want to have to carry around another device. Interesting logic. I think I'd make the sacrifice. After all, I don't know about all YOUR phones, but the screen on my phone wouldn't hold many visible words. I'd constantly have to be scrolling or something. And that's if I wanted to sit and stare at that little screen long enough to read anyway.

Here's another difference for me, though. The book would be at the top of the priority list of things to carry around. If I was going to cut something out, it would be leaving the PHONE behind. I refuse to be tied to the thing anyway.

I spend a lot of time on the computer for work; my job is to coordinate online learning opportunities. I then come home and spend time on my computer for my blog and to maintain e-mail. It is such a refreshing break from all those screens to just sit back with a book that has words printed on paper and not on a screen.

Who knows, maybe years from now someone will point at this post and say, "ha! Jen, you said you'd never read a book on your phone and now you do." However, I think I'll have to use the phone for what it was actually created for first...I'm the member of our family who used 2 - yes, I said 2 - "anytime minutes" in a full month. Heck, I don't have time for that thing! I'm too busy reading! ;)

Have a great weekend everyone! I may be snowed in here in NE Ohio, but I have plenty of excellent reading material, so all is good! Happy Reading to you!