Two things happened this week that caused this post.
- Ed Schipul, a good friend of mine, attended the Tools of Change Conference 2010 (TOC 2010) and told me that a lot of folks were talking about Nick Cave’s Death of Bunny Munro. It is “the shit.”
- Don Linn posted his observations about TOC 2010 and said (among other good insights) two things: “[a]lthough there was lots of enhanced ebook talk, most of the conversation I heard was around adding a few audio or video enhancements to text-based titles” and “[w]e need to bring in some gamers and film-makers to open our minds to the possibilities here.”
And today, after considering both of these things I asked myself one question, which lead to more:
- What is the color of thought? If someone thinks something in my novel, can color represent the thought?
- What is the color of speech? If someone speaks in my novel, can color reflect their mood?
- Will you, the reader, hear the sound of my voice in an audio track?
- Will my book come with a soundtrack? If part of my story takes place in a bar, will you hear the din of customers, or the jukebox playing a song?
- What is the color of hatred? If my protagonist is angry, will the color of the text change to a dark crimson?
- Will the page change colors to set the mood? Can the background of my book ebb and flow to reflect its mood?
- If I write part of the book in a language other than English, will you be able to hover over it and read my (not the eReader or Google’s) translation?
- Will my book have sound effects?
- Will the book have a “feeling?”
Don Linn says that after four years, no one is talking about anything new. But with the iPad and other tablets, there is a great deal to talk about.
In the past, we have relied on the skill of the author to make us imagine and give visual context to stories. And I’m not advocating that this change, but merely recognizing that the author has a new set of tools to rely on to tell (direct) the story.
I believe that graphic designers and directors (D&Ds) will be our new publishers. We now have the ability to rethink both the book and writing with the help of design. And I’m not talking unique pieces like Danielewski’s Only Revolutions, which is amazing, or Plascencia’s People of Paper, which is equally impressive, or Savage’s Firmin, or the countless other re-imaginings of print. I see a new partnership forming with D&Ds and authors to create more robust, visually stimulating stories. Stories that eschew videos and stills—which are gimmicks—and embrace typographic design and visual narrative.
Tomorrow, the author is no longer a story teller. He or she is a director, not only making you read, but watch.
[Image (cc) by sabeth718]
I’ve been working my way through all of the responses to The Edge’s Question of the Year: How is the Internet changing the way you think? If you aren’t reading them, you should because the breadth of insight is truly amazing, and the observations will have you, at times, nodding your head and saying “yes, yes, that’s totally right,” and at others, shaking it in disbelief (as if unwilling to accept how we have been changed). Although I’m not through all 172 responses yet, I wanted to highlight an excerpt from the essay of Stephen Kosslyn, titled A Small Price to Pay:
Even in its current state, the Internet has extended my memory, perception, and judgment.
Regarding memory: Once I look up something on the Internet, I don’t need to retain all the details for future use — I know where to find that information again, and can quickly and easily do so. More generally, the Internet functions as if it is my memory. This function of the Internet is particularly striking when I’m writing; I no longer am comfortable writing if I’m not connected to the Internet. It’s become completely natural to check facts as I write, taking a minute or two to dip into PubMed, Wikipedia, or the like. When I write with a browser open in the background, it feels like the browser is an extension of myself.
Regarding perception: Sometimes I feel as if the Internet has granted me clairvoyance: I can see things at a distance. I’m particularly struck by the ease of using videos, allowing me to feel as though I’ve witnessed a particular event in the news. It’s a cliché, but the world really does feel smaller.
Regarding judgment: The Internet has made me smarter, in matters small and large. For example, when writing a textbook it’s become second nature to check a dozen definitions of a key term, which helps me to distill the essence of its meaning. But more than that, I now regularly compare my views with those of many other people. If I have a “new idea,” I now quickly look to see whether somebody else has already had it, or conceived of something similar — and I then compare and contrast what I think with what others have thought. This inevitably hones my own views. Moreover, I use the Internet for “sanity checks,” trying to gauge whether my emotional reactions to an event are reasonable, quickly comparing them to those of others.
These effects of the Internet have become even more striking since I’ve used a smart phone. I now regularly pull out my phone to check a fact, to watch a video, and to read blogs. Such activities fill the spaces that used to be dead time (such as waiting for somebody to arrive for a lunch meeting).
But that’s the upside. The downside is that when I used to have those dead periods, I often would let my thoughts drift, and sometimes would have an unexpected insight or idea. Those opportunities are now fewer and farther between. Like anything else, constant connectivity has posed various tradeoffs; nothing is without a price. But in this case, I think — on balance — it’s a small price to pay. I am a better thinker now than I was before I integrated the Internet into my mental and emotional processing.
As I read through these essayist’s responses, I am left to wonder how legal research and scholarship will unfold over the next decade.
[Image (cc) by Jeremy Brooks]
Well, my embargo has finally lifted, and I’m happy to be reporting on the newest extension of Thomson Reuters Legal’s (TRL) WestlawNext artificial intelligence technology, the WestlawNext “Flash.” Honestly, after having been able to spend a couple of weeks with this objet d’art, I have been blown away. And if you get a chance to experience it, you’ll understand why this is the Next New Device. (Sorry Apple iPad!)
Through a glass door you watched
the surf break in the distance
while someone told you confidentially
that what’s really important
is the way time passes in dreams
when you’re not dreaming.
Desperate Characters, Nicholas Christopher
[[Photo (cc) bortescristian]]
Today we had to say goodbye to a dear friend, Daisy. My son, when we first brought Daisy into our family, wanted to name her Reticulated Dinosaur. An odd name for a 4-year old to bestow on a hapless puppy. We opted instead for Daisy. Through these many years, she was as a good a companion and confidant as any person could be blessed to know. She was part Golden Retriever and part Kangaroo, and anyone who knows Goldens understands what I mean. She was, at times, dumb and stubborn, qualities that closely mirror someone else I know. She was also a notorious crotch nuzzler, which guests either found shocking or pleasant. But mostly, she was sweet, and soft, and kind. And when I think of her, which will be often, I will always imagine her sitting on the porch in Maine, watching the boats go by, dreaming of nothing but an endless supply of tennis balls and dirty rotten kitties.
Good luck sweet baby, you will be missed.
I’m holiday now. I’ll be back after the end of this week, hopefully with a fresh look to this site. I hope all of you who stop by to read this trash have a peaceful holiday. God knows we need it.
From Engadget today, a link to Fresno Criminal Defense attorney Eugene Action’s website. Now, I know that going to Harvard is an achievement, but I’m trying to determine whether quotes like this increase client engagement:
I Graduated from Harvard Law School in Cambridge Massachusetts. If you have not heard of Harvard Law school, welcome to planet earth and enjoy your visit.
Or perhaps this:
If you recognize the difference between a five star hotel and the local motel, a five star restaurant and fast food, you will recognize the difference when you have me as your attorney.
Anyway, hit the link up if want some website marketing and design tips. I suggest grabbing a beer first.
[Image (cc) by Space Art]
To continue the Cops theme (and because I’m feeling nostalgic), I thought the Metallicops was particularly appropriate. I have all of the Camp Chaos videos, and this is one of my favorites. I remember saying things like, “sprinkles, gooooood!” This brings a smile to my face everytime I see it. Enjoy.
[Image (cc) by Joi]
I remember the first time I saw this film. I still have it in fact. It is one of the best parodies of Cops of all time. Period.
[Image (cc) by Scott Smith]