Kindle wars

While the controversy surrounding the kindle device, as it stands in an academic setting, has inspired much beneficial debate it has also hindered some improvements on the device that would have been a great asset to many. The hype has caused some damage to a process that could have done much more for individuals and students who have limitations often not accounted for in the bigger scheme of educational practices. The Cornelle University video footage addressed this issue through discussion about adapting the Kindle to have an audio component that essentially read or spoke the menus and works contained within. However, this was thwarted by licensing laws and regulations. Although Amazon later reflected that marketing the audio component as a feature for the blind and other disabled users would have better gotten around these restrictions, it was too little too late. I admit that this information was very disappointing and I feel an audio feature could benefit multiple members of the academic world. Ranging from elementary students to those in continuing education, the kindle and other such similar devises has the potential to be a worthy sidekick in any individuals educational process.