Backlight

Not surprisingly, reading the same words through two different lenses did alter my overall perception and experience in subconscious ways that I often forget about. An initial judging point would be varying levels of attentiveness. A book in hand is tangible and one can touch the words on a page. There are obviously far less distractions stemming from a lifeless piece of paper than an 8-tabbed web browser or interactive web page. I personally find it easier to follow an article's sequence and style in print. In other words, I take more accurate mental snapshots of where ideas are written in relation to one another another. One thing I do not understand is why sites like Slate leave you with a 2-page view option by default.

In this particular print version, I was reminded, in isolation, of the author, source, or title on each page. Personally, I read a lot of blogs and editorials online with little recollection of who or what were behind the story. The beauty of print publication is the ability to block out any commercial endorsements behind the work. Meanwhile, The Death of Planned Obsolescence on Slate is plagued with busy, obnoxious advertisements smack dab in the middle of its delivery. The work is also susceptible to its host's poor design user interface - awkward placement, unexpected drop down menus, and a land of unrelated images and boxes distracting the user from informative, value-added links. The amount of resources featured on slate.com, as well as its unprofessional color scheme, could distort its credibility as a journalistic venue. Yes, the revolution of online advertising has offered monetized value to writers and publishers, but at what point does that value trump the content of the message its complementing?

As an avid online reader, tweeter, bookmarker, sharer, etc., I do believe in the "new-age" setting. Thanks to the speed and availability of such a wide array of resources, intangible web pages mean a lot more to me. With the click of a button or the swipe of my iPhone, I can join a community of friends, family, or strangers to share knowledge, reason, and perspective across multiple disciplines. All stakeholders win in this process. User-driven, interactive reading encompasses an automatic feedback mechanism to the writers and publishers. If these publishers and writers are not careful, they can lose loyalty and brand acknowledgment, but at the same time, their reach has much more potential when hyperlinked across Web 2.0.

Interestingly enough, growing up emerged in digitalized media has shaped my study habits and learning styles. Personally, I prefer a blend of in-hand and online, for both reading and networking. For example, when I study for an exam, I start with the materials/text book in hand. I then re-type, format, and drag headers and information in a logical, concise form that makes sense to me. This personalized approach allows me to tailor information in a way I could recall and envision later. I do believe the mindless motion of typing flows to my brain similar to the handwriting approach. I then print out the guide and mark it up by hand, free from web browsers and cursors. All in all, I am a hands-on learner - I click-drag highlight lines as I read them online and rarely read print without adding to its margins.

Someone in a previous blog mentioned getting headaches from the backlight of a computer screen. From personal experience, there are optometric and neurological hurdles that can add to those headaches. After my last seizure, my doctor suggested I do not look at a monitor (TV, computer, cell phone) within three hours of going to bed. I am going to assume that lifestyle change is a little more realistic after the college life. According to Pew Research Center, 83% of "millennials" sleep with their cell phones!