Comments on: NYT Article: Becoming Screen Literate

By: Lindsay Yeoh

Lindsay Yeoh — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:20:44 +0000

I believe that technology is necessary for the development of the world. Technology allows people to communicate and interact with each other. It at the same time makes life so much easier, by offering everyone with various ways to work on and take care of his or her tasks and businesses in a short mount of time. Also, the world has become so technologically advanced, for technology has provided everyone efficient ways to communicate with each other. Therefore, although it is true that technology has taken over a lot of books and printed materials, I believe that technology is necessary for the development of the world because it is definitely a good means to create more advanced and useful tools for communication around the world.

By: AJ Germain

AJ Germain — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:22:22 +0000

I totally agree with Kevin Kelly’s article, Becoming Screen Literate. He shows how technology has dramatically advanced throughout the years. We are all consumed by the new, somewhat unnecessary technology. Some forms of technology is not needed, as Anton stated above me “the LCD display on the mouse to show battery”. Although it is not needed, people still buy it, because it makes their lives easier. Also, I agree with him when he says that screens are everywhere, and the amount of them are rapidly growing. This is just another sign that people have shifted away from traditional methods of things. For instance, instead of going and buying a newspaper, you can go online and read it there saving you the hassle of buying one. There is not much we can do to shift from this way of life as it rapidly grows. It seems that in the United States we always strive to have the newest things, and we cant do anything about it.

By: AntonO

AntonO — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 05:52:29 +0000

Kevin Kelly’s article states the abruptly obvious fact that we are all consumed by screens. In simple terms, another screen often means another task performed quicker and easier. There’s nothing wrong with this. A small LCD display on a mouse to show battery, a digital clock, or a digital timer on an electric toothbrush, all serve a purpose. Could they be avoided – obviously, but when the addition of a small display can save time, no matter how much, why not? A second a day over the course of a lifetime adds up, combining multiple implementations throughout the course of a day saves even more time.
Still, despite the growing push toward digital, some things such as books remain favorable in their true form. Reading from an eReader, for many, remains an awkward experience they would rather avoid. But, with people scraping to save every penny nowadays, many still shift to eBooks considering just how much less expensive they are than printed copies.

By: Andrew Pogo

Andrew Pogo — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:23:18 +0000

I completely agree with Kevin Kelly’s belief of the advancement of technology. As a nation, we are consumed by the fact that we can access the internet, movies, TV shows, and just about anything in the palm of your hand. I have watched part of the Scooby Doo movie by sitting in someone’s blind spot for fifteen minutes on the highway, the only reason I stopped watching was because I missed my exit. Even though technology is pulling us away from the traditional conventions of conversation, it does not completely obliterate these standards. Instead it enhances our ability to communicate faster, quicker, and more efficent. For example, after the telephone was invented, people of society did not cease speaking with others in person all together, it only made the process easier. The same goes for new technology like Twitter, Skype, and Facebook. Just because there is a new form of communication, doesn’t neccesarily mean old standards are dead.

By: Albert F

Albert F — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 12:40:19 +0000

I remember reading this blog back in December and completely agreeing. Our country has become obsessed with screen. We pick our TV by the size or quality of the screen, we pick cell phone with big touch screens, we buy ipod touches instead of nano (even though the nano has a better battery life). This constant use of technology as the main form of communication is a scary thought for some people but I believe that if we can balance technology and human interaction everything will be okay. I also believe that it is not necessarily that we are attracted or addicted to screen, I think it is more that America as a whole is attracted to flashy thing. I think Kevin Kelly touches on this when he discusses movies.

By: BrianL

BrianL — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:52:34 +0000

I enjoyed reading Mr. Kelly’s article and broadened my view on his topic. It made me take technology for granted. He does a good job of explaining how technology has changed over the years. When I thought about what he said about there being television and computer screens everywhere I realized that he is right. It seems like they’re everywhere and growing in numbers. I have a blackberry phone, for example, and it’s amazing how I can receive emails on it and jump onto the internet whenever I like. He makes a good point about Youtube also. I probably have seen more Youtube videos lately then in the movie theater. They are a lot more convenient and free as well. I also liked what he had to say about google. it is crazy to be able to go on google and find the street view of any shop or house anywhere. I even found my house on it! It is actually a little weird to know that anyone can look up pictures of your home. That is just how far technology has come along. I believe that eventually all old types of communication and writing will be replaced by ones with screens.

By: WhiteD09

WhiteD09 — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:49:50 +0000

I would agree with this article in the fact that people today use screen technologies such as iPhones, Youtube, and more. But I think that it is just how our generation is today because we have always lived with computers and television and for the most part cell phones, well at least for high school and most college students. Yes everywhere we look there are screens and more screens but that’s just how we were brought up anyway. I don’t know about everyone else but even I still read the newspaper in the morning and so does everyone in my house rather than watching the news on television. It is just better. For the most part, I think Kevin Kelly is correct because yes today people are using technologies to do almost everything from reading books to interviews with people from across the country or even with people across the world.

By: ChristinaCerv

ChristinaCerv — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:41:25 +0000

I agree with the article Keith Kelly has written about the significant changes that technology has placed on our society. Technology has advanced over the years, and it has impacted the whole entire world, which is astonishing. The screen that he writes about in this article is equivalent to books back in the day. When we want to go and research something, we do not go to the library and look through books, we immediately go onto a computer and use the Internet. The world seems to depend on screens for example we can use a computer or the T.V to look at the daily news. Technology is shaping our society into a new creation. An example of a screen that is used daily during the academic day is a projector onto a smart board. It is crazy how a simple screen has changed the world. The invention of the cell phone allows everyone to be able to contact whoever they want at whatever time. Technology is very interesting. Almost everyone carries around his or her cell phones or ipods around at all times, I know I do. I am very excited to see what new technology comes out into he future and how that can change society.

By: SeanC-S

SeanC-S — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 03:33:39 +0000

I can see why Kevin Kelly elaborates on how people are moving away from dull ways of learning like reading text books, looking at a photograph, or writing things down. Now we use new and more technologically advanced methods like using different tools on the internet like, videos, blogs, and websites loaded with information you can use at an instant. Although this is very convenient and up-to-date with all the advancements that have been going on, in a way, it is taking away some of the benefits that go along with learning the hard way. Or what some people may call the start from scratch way. People no longer need to use their imagination when they watch some video on the internet. Whereas before you would read a book on something and you would get a picture in your mind about what is going on while you read. Next, watching videos or reading someone else’s opinion on something can manipulate you into thinking that the way the person is explaining it is how something is which is not true at all. People should continue to use new technology but use books and other “old fashioned” resources still.

By: RyanB

RyanB — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:19:29 +0000

This article does a good job of describing how and why the internet has become our society’s primary method of communication. Technology has been the main factor in the shift of primary communication mode from speaking to literature to videos and pictures on the internet. I agree with the idea that videos are much easier to create as well as view today than they ever have been, especially with sites like Youtube and Timetube. Youtube organizes videos into several categories, and allows people to subscribe to specific users, which helps people find videos that they are interested in. Also, since the Internet is basically available to everyone, videos created today reach much larger audiences. The estimated 4 billion + new screens created each year is an incredible amount, and is a clear sign that this new method of communication will only become more important in the coming years and decades. During a college visit last weekend, me and my dad ate lunch in one of the dining halls. I looked around the room and saw several large screen tvs. While people often used to read the newspaper or a book during lunch, this is becoming increasingly rare as video takes over. The shift from text media to visual media will continue to occur in the coming years.