The Web and Attention Span

How much do you read online? (Christy1, 2/12/99 12:22:59 PM)

I find that I like to read short passages but shy away from long articles or unbroken narratives. I tend to think of the web as a visual-textual medium. How do you view it?

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Alan Sondheim (ASondheim, 2/12/99 9:45:17 PM)

I actually read a great deal online - there are a lot of literary ezines, as well as technical and other articles - I find it easier than reading a book, although I love the intimacy of a book.

Sometimes a laptop approaches that!

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Christy Sheffield Sanford (Christy1, 2/13/99 11:03:13 AM)

Yes, Alan, I once said I wanted to make a book that was squirmy in the lap. I have to admit I'm reluctant to place my IBM ThinkPad on my lap, however!

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Sue Thomas (Sue Thomas 2/13/99 11:24:45 AM)

Have I mentioned this before? I forget. But a few years ago I wrote a piece for Geekgirl called "Technopolyamory - or the art of loving many machines." It's just a bit of fun! (Though a bit old-fashioned now kit-wise, obviously)

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Christy Sheffield Sanford (Christy1, 2/13/99 11:38:15 AM)

Are your roots in Italian futurism, Sue? I think machine-love was one theme. I enjoyed your essay. I love the Lauri Anderson/dress-for-machine atmosphere and the bullet proof detail.

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Jeff Parker (jsparker, 2/26/99 2:59:54 PM)

No yellow text. That's all I ask. I too would enjoy a squirmy book, though I would settle for bendy.

Of course with readability at issue, I yearn for the intentionally difficult to read text. The intentionally yellow small> text. Perhaps D.J. Derrida could come up with a good one.

-parker