Jacki Stranathan

Slm 521

Silicon Snake

I found the excerpts from Stoll’s book very interesting and reading this towards the end of this class has me on the fence about the absolute necessity and elimination of all printed material. The title of the book itself was intriguing.

I enjoyed reading the reviews and the reflections. In Rory McGreal’s review I could see his point about wanting the doctors to have the very latest up to date information. I now go to a doctor that all information including charts, prescriptions, and all pertinent information is recorded on a lap top. She can look up stuff at the click of a button!

I also was in agreement with him about the usefulness of computers in school and in colleges. As was said in one of my articles, the way is the night time class on the computer. As I found from this class, it is helpful but you must be self disciplined. A trait I found hard to do! And the third thing I agreed with was his response to the social aspects computers eliminate. I love social contact. I believe that was why this class was so difficult for me and I had such trouble!! So all in all I was in agreement with this reviewer’s response to Stoll!

Jackie Dooley’s response was in complete agreement with Stoll. She was worried about the printed material becoming extinct: libraries becoming extinct. I don’t think this will happen. They did have some good points Shakespeare has been in print since 1609. A Disc doesn’t last that long. I’ve always been of the belief that we can meet half way. Libraries must accommodate computers and books. It is hard to bring a computer to bed with you to read. Even a hand held. Plus then the screen is so small. So I wasn’t in total agreement with this reviewer!

“Libraries without Books” buy Susan Caryl Gordan was closest to my own point of view as I said in the previous paragraph. A library filled with a combination of books and computers is the way of the future!