"I don't think it's as simple as thinking wide/thin or deep. I think it's a matter of filtering useful information and applying it more instantly. It also helps to communicate more effectively than providing long essays which may require access to a thesaurus or dictionary. In web content, you want audience attention, which could mean lowering the written word grade level."
Ben, I appreciate what you say, but my comment was not related to the effectiveness of web content or what gets audience attention. The big question has to do with the degree to which our brains (and, hence, our thinking) is being altered by the way we interact with information online, and one aspect of that does indeed have to do with the nature of content (among other things). I do believe that our general ability to sit for long periods, focused on a single subject is being diminished somehow. This is not an argument for or against anything, just an observation. In fact, friends of mine have admitted that they read more blog posts than books. Also, to say that an essay that requires access to a thesaurus or dictionary is a less effective way to communicate truly scares me. In fact, one could say that your opinion reflects the kind of thing these authors are talking about. Yes, there are enormous benefits to filtering and consuming information instantly; but I think there's another problem in the idea that people would need a thesaurus or dictionary to understand an essay in the first place. But that's another issue entirely. :-) The overall issue is not about our ability to understand or the relative effectiveness of content but our deeply programmed modes of thought. Check out the article in the Atlantic and you'll get a better sense of the issue. I think you'll find it pretty interesting. Cheers, Cindy ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
