The essay is a response to an article titled “Will We Still Turn Pages?” published in Monday, Jun. 19, 2000 and written by Kelvin Kelly. The article is as critical examination of the older version of reading compared to the current form of reading mainly shaped by Microsoft. The two groups discussed include people of the book and people of the screen. The former are worried that people might no longer turn pages as a results of the ignorance of the people of screen with regards to classic logic of books (Kelly, 2000). The arguments brought forth by the people of the books who live by it include the technology brings forth a half baked ideas and a times gossips, there are instances where pictures, figures as well as other attributes are not accompanied by words like in the books.
The worry of people of the book is that there will be no one how will ever obey the law since they are just in codes. On the other hand, people of the screen down play the notion by holding that they are coming up with techniques in which it will make it possible to “bind a hundred of these digital pages between covers, and you have a book that can change its content yet still be read like a book” (Kelly, 2000. Para.9). It seems confusing as to the future of how people will get access to information. The question whether the people of the screen will see to it that turning pages will be the thing of the past and the arising conflict has left people to wonder what will be the ultimate of turning pages in future.
With technological innovation, the rise of dotcom has seen tremendous changes on how information is accessed. It is worth noting that the rise in using technology has upset the older members of the society. The arising conflict has left the later group to ask whether turning pages will still be there in the near future. The conflict is between people of the book and people of the screen (Kelly, 2000). The former constitute those who publish print media, drafters of laws among others. It is these books that support and guide them and this can be seen in the manner with which they think; all are in the same page. On the other hand, people of the screen are thought of having higher level of ignorance on the advantages brought forth by the books. They have a higher preference on the high influx of screens which are found in every corner currently.
People of the book see people of screen to be responsible for coming up with half baked ideas. Additionally, gossips and unverified information being transferred very first is the work of people of the screen. It is the responsibility of the audience to establish the truth and authenticity of ideas from dotcom culture. Additionally, via the screen approach a bigger proportion of users are influenced and majority are not bothered by law of the land obtained from books. However the approach is first in delivering information. On the same note it is possible to easily combine picture, sounds and words. This has been seen by the people of the book to distort meaning.
The people of the screen are of the view that the worry of the later group that the concept of reading books will die is not true. They assert that there are efforts in place aimed at ensuring that it will be still possible for them (people of the book) to still turn pages. This will still serve the purpose of the people of the screen since it will be possible to flick and get information such as on weather and quickly get to read a poem. The advantage brought with the technology is that all books will be collected and easily accessible which can be read from anywhere (Kelly, 2000). Additionally, the information will be made printable. It is worth noting that everything will be put in place to make the readings very clear. This coupled with use of color images, figures as well as sound make turning pages interesting. Ultimately turning pages will not die as it will be possible to watch as well as read book in the screens.
From my own point of view, the current trend of technological innovation has seen to it that everything is speedy changing. For this reason there is need for all people to brace themselves and be ready to adopt the change. This is guided by the fact that if we d not change we stand a chance of being rejected and faced off. In the quest of developing e-book, there is need to have a careful blend of the views of both people of the book as well as of the screen.
It is worth noting that the advantages brought forth by development of the people of screen should not blind us from seeing what turning pages offers the human race. For that reason there is need to factor in the needs of the diverse population we currently have. It is worth noting that the arguments from both quotas seem to be right hence may sound confusing (Kelly, 2000). When it is possible for the people of screen to ensure that screens can be used to read books/open pages and be watched then the worry of the people of book will have been solved.
In conclusion, it is worth to remember that the pace with which the society is changing automatically warrants mankind to swiftly change too. The creation of screens that make it possible to turn pages as well as watching ensures that information can be accessed easily, and at the same time satisfying the needs of the people of the book.