Comments on: The Future of Books http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/06/06/the-future-of-books/ any technology distinguishable from magic is not sufficiently advanced Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:33:03 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Book.net http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/06/06/the-future-of-books/comment-page-1/#comment-4102 BuzzMachine » Blog Archive » Book.net Wed, 07 Jun 2006 09:59:42 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/06/06/the-future-of-books/#comment-4102 [...] : Rob Hyndman asks the important question: For those of us who spend a lot of time on the Web Jeff’s vision of the book’s future will seem an almost natural evolution. And that’s fine. But I’m willing to wager that many who spend a lot of time on the Web have already largely left the world of books behind them - and perhaps also even essay-oriented magazines - challenged by the pressures of time and the promise of the Web’s easier diversions to find the time to focus to the extent required to truly enjoy a good book or the latest New Yorker. I suspect that this raises one of the harder questions raised by Jeff’s vision: will books continue to be a place where immersive thought and extended time are required, or are they morphing into another channel in the always-on, million-channel universe, full of clicks and links and chats and tunes and videos; full of flashing lights and tinkling bells, an easy rest-stop for those who prefer to skim lightly over the surface of the world’s ideas? And of course, who decides? [...] [...] : Rob Hyndman asks the important question: For those of us who spend a lot of time on the Web Jeff’s vision of the book’s future will seem an almost natural evolution. And that’s fine. But I’m willing to wager that many who spend a lot of time on the Web have already largely left the world of books behind them – and perhaps also even essay-oriented magazines – challenged by the pressures of time and the promise of the Web’s easier diversions to find the time to focus to the extent required to truly enjoy a good book or the latest New Yorker. I suspect that this raises one of the harder questions raised by Jeff’s vision: will books continue to be a place where immersive thought and extended time are required, or are they morphing into another channel in the always-on, million-channel universe, full of clicks and links and chats and tunes and videos; full of flashing lights and tinkling bells, an easy rest-stop for those who prefer to skim lightly over the surface of the world’s ideas? And of course, who decides? [...]

]]> By: Steven Yanis http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/06/06/the-future-of-books/comment-page-1/#comment-4100 Steven Yanis Wed, 07 Jun 2006 07:03:59 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/06/06/the-future-of-books/#comment-4100 Interactive media products are going to proliferate, but totally replace good, old-fashioned books? I don't think so. Interactive media products are going to proliferate, but totally replace good, old-fashioned books? I don’t think so.

]]> By: Tad McIlwraith http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/06/06/the-future-of-books/comment-page-1/#comment-4080 Tad McIlwraith Tue, 06 Jun 2006 16:47:44 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2006/06/06/the-future-of-books/#comment-4080 Rob ... this post seems as related to your posts about unplugging every once in a while as any of the posts you note in the 'Related Posts' area above. One of the great pleasures in reading a book -- and you hint at this throughout the post -- is leaving everything else behind. Many of us do check the web for the ideas of others about what we read but I appreciate being able to separate the two at least until I have had time to form my own opinions. (And why wouldn't a media-heavy version of fiction like Tolkein or Dan Brown benefit from hyper-links and additional content? It's a real possibility ... and I suspect it already exists ... but one thing a time, no?) Let the readers decide ... Rob … this post seems as related to your posts about unplugging every once in a while as any of the posts you note in the ‘Related Posts’ area above. One of the great pleasures in reading a book — and you hint at this throughout the post — is leaving everything else behind. Many of us do check the web for the ideas of others about what we read but I appreciate being able to separate the two at least until I have had time to form my own opinions.

(And why wouldn’t a media-heavy version of fiction like Tolkein or Dan Brown benefit from hyper-links and additional content? It’s a real possibility … and I suspect it already exists … but one thing a time, no?)

Let the readers decide …

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