The medium I have chosen to focus on for the Photoshop Assignment is Amazon's Kindle. The Kindle, as mentioned in a previous post, was introduced in the U.S. in 2007 and has become increasingly widespread over the course of the past three years. When I first heard about the kindle, I thought it a truly innovative invention--so innovative that I absolutely hated every single aspect of it. (I'll elaborate on that later.)
The kindle's capabilities include the abilities to download and read an absurdly high number of e-books, articles, and digital images. One of the latest models of the kindle has a 4GB storage capacity--that's up to 3500 non-illustrated e-books! The kindle also boasts a battery life of up to one week if using wireless and up to two weeks when offline. That's a stronger battery life than any computer I've ever had!
The kindle's existence lends itself to many McLuhan-like messages that are in some senses completely innovative and in some senses repetitive of past technologies' messages that came with the inventions and widespread usage of commodities like the computer, the mp3 player, etc. The kindle's main message is that it is convenient--books that would normally be purchased one by one are available for a quick easy download on the kindle. Possession of the kindle could mean a whole new lifestyle for some--regular commuters via train, plane,etc. need not choose a select few books to take with them to work or on a trip. With a kindle, anything they want to read is attainable by a few simple clicks. I think that it's certainly up for debate whether or not this is a positive or negative thing. While the thought of thousands of books in their complete texts readily available at the palm of your hand is certainly a cool one, its is, for me, and maybe for McLuhan and other communication scholars, depending on how they would have viewed continuously changing new technology, a little overwhelming and intimidating. Potentially, with the rise of the kindle's popularity, gone are the days of the tangible book. A digital book on a small device does not make for the same experience as the feeling one gets when they journey into a book. For me, and for people who might share my belief on this matter, part of the beauty of printed literature comes with feeling your fingers turn each and every page, and the smell and texture of the pages of that book, whether it be 20 years old or brand new.
However, because our technology is constantly changing, especially as of late, maybe an invention like the kindle is necessary--it makes our life less...cluttered. In today's age, people have their whole lives on their technological devices--blackberries and iphones have built-in GPS's, internet access, and tons of other applications and capabilities that I don't really even know the first thing about. People like simplicity. They like the thought of access to anyr text or piece of information in the world with the click of a few buttons. The kindle also implies a "green" message, and to steadfast supporters of the green and sustainable movement, the device may make perfect sense, because why waste a resource like paper on the printing of thousands upon thousands of books? I guess it all comes down to what people consider "waste." To me, the printed book is a medium that I believe will never and should never be completely extinct. That being said, although I would never want to own one, I think it's hard to deny the kindle's innovative capabilities and the practicality of what it does and the message it communicates.
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