Technology

by Destiny Song

Created on: July 10, 2011

EBooks. Adobe. Kindle. With the influx of new technology based reading material, it seems that the old paperbacks are in mortal danger of becoming quite out of fashion. All along the subways, bus stops and cafes, it seems that there’s no end of iPads and tablets in sight, all eyes fixed on the convenient touch screen, reading material inked in beautiful fonts with eInk. And perhaps, this isn’t such a bad thing after all.

Despite the indignant cries perpetuated by traditionalists at every new technological innovation and marvel, the human race has always moved forward, to greener, futuristic, pastures. And with good reason; if the pros and cons are inadvertently weighed, the pros of technological advancement always almost outweigh the cons, and this statement holds true even in the context of this argument.

The first advantage of moving on to new technological means to aid our reading habits becomes apparent when taken in consideration with current environmental concerns. Millions of paperbacks are printed each and every day, and the toll that takes on our beloved planet is astounding indeed. Football fields worth of trees are cleared from forests with every 24 hour cycle, and global warming, in light of the recent natural disasters occurring all around the globe, is becoming of international concern. As moral as the insatiable quest for knowledge might be, why should we burden Mother Nature with our reading habits, when there’s an alternative in clear sight? Relying on downloads for our daily reads saves paper and lessens the burden on both nature, as well as our hardworking recyclers.

Counter-arguments will state that electricity, being used to power these technological devices, takes a toll on the environment too. But doesn’t everything take a toll on the environment? To answer this question, we have to take a look at the carbon footprint each leaves, and with (insert fact here),

But enough about society. We’re all human and selfish beings; naturally, our thoughts turn to what advantages do these new reading innovations do for ourselves? The foremost reason for switching to technological means is for the pure sake of convenience. Imagine relying purely on paper. Having to go down to the grocers, to buy your daily paper. Then to go down to the bookstore or library, to pick up your weekly book. And if you don’t like the book, then you’ll either have to live with it for the rest of the week, or take that long trip all over again. Inconvenience is one of the key reasons so many give up their reading habits, and that is a poor reason and a pity indeed.

But imagine if you had a iPad, a tablet, or whatever. A button and perhaps internet connection, the latter found almost anywhere in the modern age, is all that separates you from your latest read. The newspaper? Click. The latest literature? Click. Latest edition of your favorite magazine? Click, or switch to your web browser. In any case, the convenience of modern gadgets is astounding, yet absurdly simple; and it gets rid of any compulsion to give up your reading habits whatsoever.

Furthermore, paperbacks are bulky, and get dirty easily. How many yellow, moth-ridden, half-eaten paperbacks do you currently have on your shelf? And spill your coffee on your table with your paperback, and it’s gone. Granted, tablets are heavier than paperbacks for obvious reasons, and will spoil if you spill your coffee directly on top; but with a protective cover, and for a long trip or short attention spans, a tablet will probably be far more convenient than the traditional paperback. And what do you do with books after you read them? Paperbacks cause a clutter; EBooks are deleted at a single touch.

Of course, one of the key oppositions towards the latest technological marvels is the common outcry against chasing every new gadget that comes out; an empty wallet. New tablets are expensive; and with all the latest processors and screens, it’s probably for good reason. Spilling scalding coffee onto your iPad will probably hurt more (metaphorically, of course. Scalding coffee always hurts) than spilling it onto your paperback, and your month’s salary will probably be set back with the purchase of a new iPad. But then again, you pay for quality, right? Cheaper tablets are available for as low as $200, which is a price affordable by most with a little scrimping and saving.

Health arguments also seemingly hit brick walls. Old wives tales that the glow from eReaders hurt eyes and emit harmful radiation have been proven either largely false or minimal; damage to the eyes and possible eye problems such as myopia is mainly due to sudden switches between a lit screen and a dark background, or movement of the reading material, either of which is easily prevented. Harmful radiation have so far been proven minimal; the side-effects caused by technology are largely irrelevant and minimal.

Granted, there’s nothing quite like a fresh new paperback straight out of the printing press, or a paperback with a nice scented bubble bath or roaring log fire on a stormy night. Paperbacks have that certain inherent quality within them, a traditional pleasure that no technology can ever replace. Yet, technology is inching desperately close in an attempt to close this gap; eReaders are getting smaller and more portable with each passing year, and the latest innovations in eInk makes reading eBooks much like reading beloved paperbacks. Technology is fast taking over paperbacks as the preferred reading material of choice; and with such a multitude of reasons, such a conclusion in the foreseeable future is neither surprising nor hard to imagine.

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