Archive for September, 2009
Bemoaning the Decline of Print
September 26th, 2009
This morning I stumbled upon a blog entry titled Rebooting the Book (One Apple iPad Tablet at a Time) by Mark Sigal. In the article, Sigal dreams of the new possibilities of when digital readers and other multimedia devices completely replace the printed book, in particular when Apple gets involved in the e-book reader business. (I personally don’t know anything about Apple’s e-book projects, but it’s really beside the point.)
This article is another example of dramatic, high-tech speculation in which possibilities in the future world astound us, and those who hold on to present or past ways are cast aside in irrelevance. In this case, it’s the bibliophiles who are desperately (and apparently, naively) holding on to the printed word; if only they would open their eyes to the inevitable developments — “books” with internet connections, interactive features, simulations, video immersion, and built-in social networking — they would see the light too! So the other author pleads.
For better or worse, I don’t quite consider myself a bibliophile. I like reading, but I tend to get distracted and forget about the two or three books I’m trying to engage. However, I, like some bibliophiles, am really hesitant to fully embrace the e-book reader trend, or the multi-media remaking of the book. My primary concerns are in the form of questions. First, there are the copyright issues. How will future e-books be distributed, who will have the rights to read them, and will I be able to give a copy to my friend when I am done (something I can do now with physical books, at no risk to my legal self)? Will e-books make me more or less dependent on energy companies, telecoms, and technology companies? Will they help the small publisher, or more greatly benefit the large media outlets (e.g., Amazon, Apple, etc)?
These last concerns are particularly directed at Sigal’s speculations about the new possibilities for multimedia in learning. Will future forms of what are now printed genres help me better reason about the world? Will simulations and immersive digital environments help me to better develop, communicate, and defend my ideas? Will they help me think and speak coherently? I for one have a really hard time reading a long wikipedia article without getting completely distracted with links redirecting me and my thought processes to other articles or other places on the web.
I like new things. They’re fun and exciting. I also understand that communication media change and will continue to change. (Personal case in point: I’m writing a blog.) However, don’t give up on print just yet. Don’t give up on that which is non-interactive. Don’t give up on the linear construction of ideas. And please, don’t just assume that if Apple is coming out with a new technology that the best thing to do with it is to push it into our schools.
Update (1 October 2009): I just read an article regarding these new kinds of media and some and those who are suspicious.
“Sizing Up Sustainable Food”
September 13th, 2009
On a semi-recent edition of NPR’s Talk of the Nation, host Ira Flatow interviewed three individuals regarding the local food movement—James McWilliams, Michael Pollan, and Brian Halweil. While Flatow tried to structure the debate with the interviewees in opposition to one another, they had little to disagree about. Instead, this interview turns out to be a nice overview of the broadness of the so-called locavores’ arguments regarding food production. It’s more than simply reducing your “carbon footprint”; they promote thinking about where your food comes from in terms of energy use, community connection and development, economics, health, and creating a decentralized, stable food system. Also, Pollan et al. argue that it’s important to put an end to the strict dichotomy between what is known as conventional farming and organic farming. To its own benefit, the former can easily integrate some of the practices of the organic community, while the latter can be easily co-opted by large agri-businesses, reducing its benefits, particularly in terms of energy use. (I recommend listening to the interview over lunch.)
Moreover, this interview is a fine response to one previously aired, in which Charlotte Allen vents her frustration with what she feels is an impossible and condescending call to eat locally. However, she doesn’t offer very strong arguments for her position during the interview outside of a desire to be able to eat whatever she wants, cheaply, and ignores the broader costs of food production.
On a related note, in a more recent interview on NPR’s All Things Considered, Pollan discusses the national diet and the food industry in relation to the health care debate. His primary argument is that while the federal government is trying to cut health care costs, it is also fueling the fire by heavily subsidizing the crops that find their way into our junk food—in particular, corn syrup.
This topic verges on a conversation I’ve been hoping we could have for a while now. Unfortunately, discussion about how to build healthy lifestyles has been shadowed by the conversation about how to mend health problems. Health reform (as opposed to simply health care reform), should include a thorough examination of our food and our food sources.
Review: Web Style Guide
September 11th, 2009
I recently read the Web Style Guide (3rd ed.) by Patrick J. Lynch and Sarah Horton. This book struck me as a mature, down-to-earth, and useful guide to designing for the web. The authors intelligently address the web development process, information design, page structure, layout and typography. They avoid gimmicky trends and focus on approach as opposed to rushing into new technologies; it’s not a how-to guide or a book about any particular web system or language. Instead, the authors elaborate on emerging standards and conventions the web community has developed over the past two decades.
I was particularly impressed by Lynch and Horton’s commitment to universal usability, that is, designing to support all users, including those not typically supported such as the visually-impaired. As a result, they rightly emphasize the semantic nature of HTML. For example, instead of creating your headings with a styled <div> tag, use the appropriate <h*> tag and style as necessary. (This prompted me to re-familiarize myself with some of the underused features of HTML, including <abbr> for abbreviations, <cite> for in-document citations, <address> for addresses, and <dl>, <dt>, <dd> for lists of terms and definitions.) By using these tags instead of styled <p> or <div> tags, you can provide hints to screen readers and search engines about how to render or interpret your web content.
The Web Style Guide is generally helpful, easy to read, and well-written. (I recommend it if you plan to re-design your own website.) If you don’t feel like purchasing the text or simply want to sample some of the content, you can access the full text online.
m
ps: unfortunately, reading this book made me realize that I have a lot of work to do to improve this site. Don’t judge me by the authors’ standards just yet!
Ben’s Solar Cooker
September 7th, 2009
In a recent trip to Boise, Idaho, I had the chance to check out my father-in-law’s new solar cooker. He built it for a small competition at work, making it from scratch and hand-cutting 140 pieces from two mirrors to create a parabolic reflector. In the Boise sun, the cooker can be really effective. It’s reportedly able to heat food up to almost 360 °F! I’ve posted some pictures of us using the device to cook eggs, hot dogs and marshmallows.
If you’re interested in building one of your own, you may want to visit the Solar Cooking Archive.
Enjoy!
m
