Tablets computers threaten participation (and real work?)

Jonathan Angel recently explained very well, in a piece about the IBM PC’s birthday’, something I realized the first time I saw a tablet computer, that is the main reason why I will not limit myself to any device like that, and suggest nobody does. Here’s that reason, expressed with two quotes from Jonathan’s piece, which I do suggest you read in its entirety:


  • Smartphone and tablets make it easier to sit and consume, not participate in any sort of detailed expression
  • awkward text entry = less democracy (because awkward text entry = less text entry = less active participation)

Does it make sense, in a world still founded on the written word, to rely only on devices that don’t make text entry as fast as possible?

I confess there’s another part of what Jonathan wrote that I love. It’s when he says (synthesizing) “I wonder what some people don’t understand about the definition of the word “work.” If twenty-somethings don’t want to work with personal computers [because they like tablets better]… there are plenty of older workers who need jobs”.


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One Response to Tablets computers threaten participation (and real work?)

  1. Well, well, well. I need to state that the Android plateform for computer tablets is mcuh more versatile than iPad. Although iPad has a lot more programs to play with, the Andriod plateform offers a better practical operation. Take for example, the Asus Eee Pad Transformation is a great piece of hardware which you will love once you give it a try.

    Joe