FYI

[FamilyWiggs]

it never ceases to amaze me that when holding the kindle, iPad or even iPod, with a wifi connection I am carrying instant and free access to the entire totality of human knowledge. Every last scrap of it almost; there is very little that is now not accessible online one way or another.

I absolutely agree, FW. The phrase "I don't know" has been almost entirely replaced by the phrase, "I'll Google it". There's absolutely nothing that you can't find out, if you're prepared to take a few minutes on the computer to search for an answer.

The skills we're teaching the kids now are less about how to search for information (remember dicitonary and encyclopaedia lessons at school?) and now much more about how to assess the quality and bias of the returns you get on t'internet.

Incidentally, I've started to drop the capital from google. I think it is now as ubiquitous as doing the hoovering and so no longer a proper noun.

 

[Flyfisher]

The skills we're teaching the kids now are less about how to search for information (remember dicitonary and encyclopaedia lessons at school?) and now much more about how to assess the quality and bias of the returns you get on t'internet.

Quite right too - it's a key skill for the 21st century.

Incidentally, I've started to drop the capital from google. I think it is now as ubiquitous as doing the hoovering and so no longer a proper noun.

I can't remember the programme but there was a piece on R4 last week about when protected trademarks become public property through exactly that sort of common usage. I think it was someone from the OED (or similar) talking about when to include such words in the official record of the english language.

 

[worms]

But why? What is it about the Kindle...

Penners, at the risk of being ageist, I would have thought that at your age (and if I'm honest at mine, too) the ability of the Kindle to zoom to large print might be an attraction!

 

[Flyfisher]

Incidentally, I've started to drop the capital from google. I think it is now as ubiquitous as doing the hoovering and so no longer a proper noun.

I can't remember the programme but there was a piece on R4 last week about when protected trademarks become public property through exactly that sort of common usage. I think it was someone from the OED (or similar) talking about when to include such words in the official record of the english language.

On the off-chance that anyone is interested, I just happen to be listening to a repeat of the programme in question.
It's "Word Of Mouth" on R4, first broadcast on 17th April 2012.
The programme description is here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01g61vp (though I don't know if this page is changed every week).

 

[Penners]

Penners, at the risk of being ageist, I would have thought that at your age (and if I'm honest at mine, too) the ability of the Kindle to zoom to large print might be an attraction!

Not necessary for me. My Noddy And Big-Ears books are in nice big print anyway.

In all seriousness, though, I have nothing whatsoever against the Kindle. If it encourages people to read, then I'm all for it. In fact I bought one for Mrs P recently. I was just taking a little speculative stroll around the reasons why some people would read more on a Kindle than they do on paper.

 

[LadyArowana]

[ I was just taking a little speculative stroll around the reasons why some people would read more on a Kindle than they do on paper.

They must be folks that don't like to read a paperback in the bath, I havn't risked the i.Pad, assume it would't like getting soggy.

 

[Juju]

Well, if I could afford this house, we could easily fit everything we own into it. In fact we could buy lots more books! I don't think we need so many bathrooms though:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-21988938.html

I've often walked past this house and wondered what it was like inside. Now I know and I need to win the lottery urgently.
Juju

 

[Feltwell]

Slightly delayed response - this working lark is so inconvenient, it just gets in the way of so many things........

Re. son & reading, I suspect I am guilty of wanting him to enjoy something that I enjoyed a great deal as a child. But of course 2 major factors come into play:-

- The world has changed a great deal since 1978 when I was 6, he has access to a vast array of entertainment and information that I didn't.
- More importantly, he's not me.

I think I'll relax a bit on this one. He's a bright lad, his reading skills are excellent, as someone mentioned if he slips back a year or two then so what? He will read joke books, one of the few things he does like to read.

Even posters and packaging will convey vital communication skills.

Yes, he drove us slightly mad from about age 3 reading every single sign and box he could possibly find and asking "What does that mean?" - but mad in a nice way, of course! We've never pushed him to read, he taught himself mostly - absorbing words from us reading to him, and seeing all the books that his older sister brought home from school in her first year. Older sister is now an avid reader, which is quite possibly another reason why we worry a bit.

Little brother appears to be going the same way, he loves his alphabet and numbers. If anyone has very young children/grandchildren and wants to get them something educational and entertaining, I can't recommend this DVD highly enough for teaching the alphabet - it's a bit dated but all my kids loved it and picked up the alphabet from it very quickly.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Men-Great-Alphabet-Hunt/dp/B000CDINNQ

Congratulations on your 3000th post Feltwell.

What an achievement! 3000 occasions on which he chose to post here instead of getting on with his work.

I think I'd be slightly ashamed of a record like that.

Ahh yes, but that record of mine will be 2990 posts of drivel, distractions from topics or naff jokes, and about 10 useful ones that took some time & effort :wink:

 

[jocelyn plummer]

You're right JuJu, lovely house--dream on!