Quote:
Originally Posted by daffy4u
. . . Nicholas Carr laments on how reading has become a sort of ADHD event, in that he believes it's harder to just sit and read without expecting a computer-like experience.
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This is what concerns me with the rush to "all-in-one" devices like the magical tablet. Reading
is fundamental to civilization, which is why so many extreme right (fanatical) religious sects burn unapproved books and ban schooling. In another couple of decades, they will have lost their holy grail as "civilized" countries lose their ability to read.
What does a multiuse device bring to the world of reading? Nothing. Yes, it is a cost saver and convenient, one device to do everything, but it is no more convenient than a dedicated reading device but a lot more dangerous to the fundamental skill of reading. I can envision it now: In the classroom of 2024, a teacher assigns a book to be read and what happens? The students fire up their multiuse device, read the first text paragraph of the book, decide its too much work or too boring, and quickly go to the video enactment (condensed, of course, to 3 minutes or less because attention spans, even for video, are miniscule).
Reading, whether fiction or nonfiction, technical or nontechnical, is fundamental and educational. Sadly, and perhaps it is because I am an ancient fuddy-duddy, I see the promotion of multiuse devices as reading devices as a sure nail in the coffin of reading. When I was a kid, many decades ago, it was a great gift to receive books and I spent many hours reading them and using my imagination. with my children, I tried to carry on that tradition of giving books and encouraging reading and imagination, and was, for the most part successful, but even so, too many hours that should have been spent creatively were spent in front of the TV or playing Mario Brothers or some other relatively mindless computer game.
Multiuse devices are, I think, a significant threat to basic reading skills.