Like this one, I’m still mighty curious about Amazon’s font selection for its Monday-launched e-book device, Kindle. I mean, for starters, out of all typefaces in the world, why Caecilia?
However, I think that Amazon might have gotten it right this time, because the device was:
- Birthed with a culturally-centered principles, and
- Built by sociologists and ethnographers
As quoted from the article:
…he [Jeff Bezos] ticks off a number of attributes that a book-reading device…must have. First, it must project an aura of bookishness; it should be less of a whizzy gizmo than an austere vessel of culture.
Compare this with Sony Reader’s:
- Feature and benefit-centered principle, and
- Clunky reading interface that attempted to mirror exactly the appearance of a physical book or a PDF file (that looked like it was designed by a programmer instead of a sociologist). Look, dudes, with every new medium must come a new presentation model that is specifically suited to that medium, even if the contents themselves are old and dusty.
As quoted from their website copy:
The Sony® Reader provides a new way to experience reading. It boasts an impressive display, utilizing breakthrough technology that’s almost paper-like. In addition, the text can be magnified for sight-impaired readers. Daylight readable, high contrast, high resolution, near 180º viewing angle.
I think that if any revolution is to take place, it has to take the human spirit into account. From what I’ve read so far, Amazon seemed to do just that; but it remains to be seen whether those words were true to principle or just extremely empathic/clever PR.Your thoughts?
