A Boots Instantly, High-Res, No Batteries Invention

Hanna
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A Boots Instantly, High-Res, No Batteries Invention

Postby Hanna » Mon Sep 05, 2016 8:40 am

A letter published in the Wall St. Journal.

I would add only one thing to Henry Hitchings’s excellent review of Keith Houston’s “The Book” (“From Sheepskins to E-Books,” Bookshelf, Aug. 30). Anyone who loves printed books and is concerned about the effect of technology on their continued existence can take comfort from the following observations of Neil Gershenfeld who, as director of the Center for Bits and Atoms at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is an authority on the subject. He points out that books: “boot instantly; have a high contrast, high-resolution display; is viewable from any angle, in bright or dim light; permits fast random access to any page; provides instant visual and tactile feedback on the location; can be easily annotated; requires no batteries or maintenance; [and] is robustly packaged.” A laptop or an e-book meets exactly none of those specifications. As Mr. Gershenfeld says: “If the book had been invented after the laptop it would be hailed as a great breakthrough.”

John C. Webb

Columbus, Ohio

=====

My sentiments exactly.



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John Q. Public
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Re: A Boots Instantly, High-Res, No Batteries Invention

Postby John Q. Public » Mon Sep 05, 2016 9:19 am

Now if they could only come up with a ctl + function for them. I read a thousand-page book a couple months ago with text that was just a little smaller than I'd have liked. Great book but it was an ordeal.

I have a feeling them "book" things are better for your eyes, too. I'm wondering if our "screen" generations are going to start having eye problems earlier than previous generations.
Don't look at me, I just work here.

MDDad
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Re: A Boots Instantly, High-Res, No Batteries Invention

Postby MDDad » Mon Sep 05, 2016 1:09 pm

John, yes, our "screen" generation will almost certainly have vision problems when they get older, but it will be from looking at porn, not reading the classics.

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