Digital Disengagement

[serpentine]

I wasn't particularly aware that there was any widespread resistance to digital technology for collaboration or engagement, though there might be a lack of understanding. It's new, lively and rapidly evolving, and is becoming a whole new specialism in its own right. But its strength lies in its immediacy - it's technology of our time and the instant-gratification mood of the country. But I can understand wariness from academics in terms of the permanence of publishing online, or fear of plagiarism or remarks out of context. I agree with Dino - I think there will always be a place for more traditional modes of working, you can't replace the social side of actual face to face conversation, and books will always win hands down for me. Sometimes half the interest is in the outdated content (cf recent nostalgia over old Encyclopaediae Britannica editions).

(Hello everyone, by the way. First post from long time lurker; seem to be a few of us taking the plunge lately.)