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One way to use the tech to simplify things is devising a "genius list" for readers or e-book sites, like Apple has for the iPod/pad. Based on books you've read or purchased or just on the content of your device the software could make suggestions for future books. Ideally this wouldn't just be based on category, author and so on but on feedback and linkages from thousands of other customers.
Personally, I have never read as much as I do now that I can have a book with me everywhere I go. Whether it's my iPod Touch or my Sony Touch, it's easy to spend any "downtime" fruitfully. The variety and selection has always been enormous and I remember spending hours sometimes trying to find something new at the library. I can do the same thing in minutes by surfing Amazon and reading comments or samples of books. To some extent such comments are as good as word of mouth from associates. At some point some smart seller will meld this all together and you can see what a particular commenter likes to read and use that to help you decide if his opinion has value to you. Amazon already does this to an extent but it's still just getting started.
This reflects the internet overall. Info that formerly needed weeks to compile can be accessed in seconds but most people just trust whatever wikipedia says. Or use the net for mostly non-educational purposes and just cut and paste enough junk info for a passing grade on a report.
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