Print Vs. Digital Media

John Smith

Final Report

One cannot doubt the fact that technology has radically changed the way we communicate to the way we run businesses; however, technology has also opened the door to many different opportunities making the educational experience more personalized and interactive. Through my interaction with the mobile application, Frankenstein by Dave Morris, I found myself gaining a greater understanding of Mary Shelley's classic novel and its themes. Though the mobile application did not replace the knowledge I gained from reading the original text, it allowed me to gain a different perspective that I wouldn’t have seen with reading printed text alone.

Over the the course of my research I asked a diverse group of people questions that found their preferences when it came to print and digital media. After doing so, I can conclude the following: The older generations, considering the traditional ways they became comfortable with, have a more difficult time accepting and adjusting to technologically-driven advances than the younger generations. The younger generations seem to both accept and prefer the idea of more progressive technology being used in a traditional setting. Because the younger generation prefers more technology being used in the education setting, the classroom experience must adapt to modern times in order to suit the most effective way of learning among students. With both of these advances in technology, students are able to have a more engaging and interactive experience, allowing for better retention and understanding of the material.

With the advances in technology, the educational process has gained many advantages. Technology has made the reading for educational purposes a much more enjoyable and effective process. When reading any literary work, the ability to categorize and connect specific passages is an essential aspect of having a meaningful reading experience. Using digital devices for reading text allows the user to easily highlight and take notes, providing them a simpler and more efficient way to store the specific content. This saves the reader from having to flip through the book, searching for the desired pages. Digital devices can also make the essay process easier for students, for when cited examples are needed to support a topic, they can quickly and conveniently access their notes from the novel. Using a digital reading device also brings a sense of familiarity and fun to the reader, considering most of them are very accustomed to tasks being accomplished in a form of technology. Reading becomes less mundane to an individual when they use technology because it brings forth a more modern feel.

Although digital technology can be useful when it comes to reading, they can also pose numerous issues. The mobile reading application only allows the reader to view what they are currently reading and before; it does not allow the reader to see the future text. This prevents the reader from physically being able to identify the progress they are making when reading the book thus possibly hindering their motivation to continue. Another disability of digital applications is the restricted battery life. Since the device is electronic, the reader must factor in the possibility of not having access to the application if they forget to charge their device. This can be an issue when one is unable to recharge the device for a long amount of time, preventing them from making progress in their novel.

Though digital devices are an amazing tool for better understanding literature, it will never have the full ability to replace the original text. The original text allows the reader to form opinions and visualize the story without the influence of the application. Using Frankenstein by Dave Morris as an example, the mobile application automatically adjusts the way the story is told to fit the reader’s individual choice of experience. This brings into question whether or not the application will properly and accurately depict the story and its content for all readers. With the traditional print books, everyone reads the same text, eliminating the chance of the content being misunderstood or misinterpreted. Another advantage of using the physical copy of the text is the opportunity to develop stronger