Comments on: Welcome, iPad http://monicabulger.com/2010/01/welcome-ipad/ The Search Myth: Quality Information is Not a Click Away Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:18:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Monica http://monicabulger.com/2010/01/welcome-ipad/comment-page-1/#comment-226 Monica Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:09:15 +0000 http://monicabulger.com/?p=342#comment-226 I want to argue that serendipity is limited by whatever is in the catalog, and that <em>access</em> may be prioritized over <em>quality</em> in criteria for inclusion. I also want to use browsing bookshelves in the library as an example of research serendipity -- finding the exact section of interest and then perusing the shelves. But I see problems with both arguments. Also, I've found Amazon's suggestions for texts I'd like pretty serendipitous...Netflix as well. Not always, and not usually, but enough to make me pause before arguing that we're completely losing it. So, serendipity may be different digitally, but not non-existent. There's a certain quiet in my mind when I'm wandering bookshelves, though, and I feel the opposite when looking for texts online -- frantic is a better description, rushed, urgent, only because there's so much to search through. This is a different argument, though, but important when considering serendipitous moments. I can't really experience the luxury of seeing connections or the space to find them if I'm overwhelmed by information. With bookshelves, I can see the end of the space. I know the scope of my options. With online texts and music stores, Google Books for example, or Apple iTunes, the options seem endless. I want to argue that serendipity is limited by whatever is in the catalog, and that access may be prioritized over quality in criteria for inclusion. I also want to use browsing bookshelves in the library as an example of research serendipity — finding the exact section of interest and then perusing the shelves. But I see problems with both arguments.
Also, I’ve found Amazon’s suggestions for texts I’d like pretty serendipitous…Netflix as well. Not always, and not usually, but enough to make me pause before arguing that we’re completely losing it. So, serendipity may be different digitally, but not non-existent.
There’s a certain quiet in my mind when I’m wandering bookshelves, though, and I feel the opposite when looking for texts online — frantic is a better description, rushed, urgent, only because there’s so much to search through. This is a different argument, though, but important when considering serendipitous moments. I can’t really experience the luxury of seeing connections or the space to find them if I’m overwhelmed by information. With bookshelves, I can see the end of the space. I know the scope of my options. With online texts and music stores, Google Books for example, or Apple iTunes, the options seem endless.

]]> By: Bertil Hatt http://monicabulger.com/2010/01/welcome-ipad/comment-page-1/#comment-225 Bertil Hatt Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:55:47 +0000 http://monicabulger.com/?p=342#comment-225 You are not loosing serendipity, but you can have random, or thoughtful serendipty, and you can have it all the time: when you are bored (and your iPad notices you don't flip the pages as you used to) when you are finished, when you just bought one (not ideal on that device) but more importanlty, when you are far away from a bookshop. I live atop of the most beautiful bookstore in the world: I don't have to put on shoes to go there, and trust me I'm there all the time: http://galignani.com/en/galignani.php But even I can tell you: that device will make me read and buy more books. Ask any Kindle reader. I'll probably spend more time making presentations on it—but still. Ether is the best bookstore. You are not loosing serendipity, but you can have random, or thoughtful serendipty, and you can have it all the time: when you are bored (and your iPad notices you don’t flip the pages as you used to) when you are finished, when you just bought one (not ideal on that device) but more importanlty, when you are far away from a bookshop.
I live atop of the most beautiful bookstore in the world: I don’t have to put on shoes to go there, and trust me I’m there all the time:
http://galignani.com/en/galignani.php

But even I can tell you: that device will make me read and buy more books. Ask any Kindle reader. I’ll probably spend more time making presentations on it—but still. Ether is the best bookstore.

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