Tablets: A Successful Journalism Tool?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
All the rage these days are new tablet devices such as the Apple iPad. However, are these devices helping increase communication? In some ways, no. So far at least.
An article found on TechDirt talks about some of the problems that still persisit with the iPad and other tablet devices. One of these issues is that they are geared mostly towards one-way communication. This, obviously, can be problematic for budding journalists. If a journalist is unable to make his or her work available to consumers, their input will never be heard.
Lack of a keyboard is also a problem with tablet devices. Anyone with experience with a touch screen knows that it is not easy to type using a touch screen keypad. They are prone to errors and accidental misspelling.
Another problem with the iPad specifically? The lack of Flash capabilities. Many websites have pictures or videos that are only accessible if you have Flash. With the iPad, a user is unable to view these. However, this is a problem specific to the iPad.
Do any of you have an iPad or other tablet device? Have any of you ever used one? Do any of you want one?
Photocredit: Glenn Fleishman, Wikimedia, Creativecommons.com
3 comments:
I think the ipad is a great invention but it is going to take a lot of getting used to. I myself have never had a touch screen phone and find them very annoying. People with big fingers also must have problems with it. I think that having an ipad could be seen as a negative impact to the world if it were used while individuals were driving and so on. If the ipad breaks I believe that it will be very costly to fix as they are just new to the consumer world and technicians are still unsure of the entire gadget themselves.
Tablet devices, such as the iPad, has changed the way that people distribute information forever. It is a whole other medium that people can use on the go, even simpler then a lap top. It provides many applications that your smart phone can't even keep up with, such as the books application. Also making things cheaper for the users that have these devices. It is frustrating for some people, but I don't see those individuals becoming a Communication major.
Post a Comment