I watch very little television these days, but one person who occasionally makes it worthwhile is the British broadcaster James May. Just recently I have been studying his work closely.
Best known as part of the Top Gear presentation team, he has also made numerous educational and science-orientated programmes for the BBC. Cultured, and with an infectious enthusiasm about technology and science, and a keen appreciation of history, he manages to combine the erudite and eloquent with a common touch, a rare achievement indeed.
True, he occasionally exaggerates one facet or other of his on-screen persona, to suit the demands of particular circumstances, but he is never less than entertaining and endearing. He has probably enthused more young people about science and related subjects than any number of officially-sanctioned "experts". He has certainly had that effect on me....
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label technology. Show all posts
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Kindle Or Real Books?
Well, after a lot of persuasion from one friend in particular, I have purchased a Kindle. I am assured that this will open up a whole vista of new possibilities, and enhance my life immeasurably.
As something of a Luddite on matters technological, I always need to be dragged kicking and screaming to embrace the latest "must-have" gadget or innovation. The process was the same with games consoles, mobile phones and PCs.
In fairness, I am impressed by what I have so far seen from the Kindle. The device itself seems user-friendly, neat and efficient, and the mechanism for downloading Kindle books is much swifter and more seamless than I had envisaged. The reading experience itself also appears pleasing and straightforward.
Having said all this, I still find it difficult to imagine totally forsaking the world of "real", tangible paper books any time soon. I know that it sounds trite, but there is something inherently comforting and reassuring in holding a book in one's hands, as if the space between the covers symbolizes a whole secret and mysterious world waiting to be uncovered, discovered and explored.
I am not a particularly strong advocate of technology for technology's sake, and there is a tendency these days to view the medium as more important than the content or the message. However, I can see how the Kindle and its ilk will continue to take hold, although it will take a long time for such devices to truly supplant the paper book in our affections.
From what I have heard and seen, the Kindle is very much causing a buzz, partly through pure word of mouth, and there is an element of peer pressure at work, as with other such items in the past, in persuading people to buy them. Some people will probably get one in order to "keep up with the Joneses" on a micro-scale, for fear of feeling left out of chatter, or becoming a social pariah.
I can say, hand on heart, that I bought mine in order to complement and augment my existing reading habits, and to take advantage of the sheer variety of literature available on the Kindle format. The move may also save me a bit of shelf space at home!
Some future posts on this blog may well be inspired and prompted by my Kindle reading....
As something of a Luddite on matters technological, I always need to be dragged kicking and screaming to embrace the latest "must-have" gadget or innovation. The process was the same with games consoles, mobile phones and PCs.
In fairness, I am impressed by what I have so far seen from the Kindle. The device itself seems user-friendly, neat and efficient, and the mechanism for downloading Kindle books is much swifter and more seamless than I had envisaged. The reading experience itself also appears pleasing and straightforward.
Having said all this, I still find it difficult to imagine totally forsaking the world of "real", tangible paper books any time soon. I know that it sounds trite, but there is something inherently comforting and reassuring in holding a book in one's hands, as if the space between the covers symbolizes a whole secret and mysterious world waiting to be uncovered, discovered and explored.
I am not a particularly strong advocate of technology for technology's sake, and there is a tendency these days to view the medium as more important than the content or the message. However, I can see how the Kindle and its ilk will continue to take hold, although it will take a long time for such devices to truly supplant the paper book in our affections.
From what I have heard and seen, the Kindle is very much causing a buzz, partly through pure word of mouth, and there is an element of peer pressure at work, as with other such items in the past, in persuading people to buy them. Some people will probably get one in order to "keep up with the Joneses" on a micro-scale, for fear of feeling left out of chatter, or becoming a social pariah.
I can say, hand on heart, that I bought mine in order to complement and augment my existing reading habits, and to take advantage of the sheer variety of literature available on the Kindle format. The move may also save me a bit of shelf space at home!
Some future posts on this blog may well be inspired and prompted by my Kindle reading....
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