The Thumb Thing: Why didn't someone invent this earlier?
Kevin Kelly's Cool Tools features a $3-4 fancy schmancy piece of plastic to keep books open with your thumb. If they're anything like guitar picks, I'll be ordering a gross of them.When I was a teenager I remember reading a science-fiction story which predicted that by the 21st century, information would be piped directly into the brain. In this story, a character encountered that most archaic object, an old-fashioned book, and felt appalled that people in the 20th century had been forced to endure so much physical discomfort, holding books and turning their pages manually--or trying to prevent the pages from turning if there was a breeze.I'll be damned.
Well, here we are in 2006, and yet another science-fiction prediction has failed to pan out. While we're waiting for wetware implants, we'll just have to make do with a stopgap solution: A plastic thumb aid.
Link (via Boing Boing)
posted by brad77 at 1/25/2006 05:21:00 PM
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20 Comments:
I totally read that book too! "The Last Book in the Universe" - most excellent. But I think this thing is useless because we, um, already have thumbs.
I bought a couple of these but they only work somewhat imperfectly. The reason is that the horizontal part, that sticks out from your thumb, is so thin. They would work so much better if they were flat!
...are you serious?
Is it really that hard for you to hold a book?
Seems highly unnecessary to me.
This seems practical if you're required to hold a book with one hand...assuming that the book isn't huge. I could totally use this at work when I standing around...doing nothing...holding a book with one hand, and my other arm folded against my chest, supporting the arm the holds up the book...so...this is a very good invention.
No thanks. I can actually hold a book with my thumb. Useless.
Anyone who needs this is either an invalid or too stupid to read.
You're probably right, Anonymous. Thank you for your input.
I actually can't hold a book open with my thumb for too long - muscle disease makes it weak. Something like this would be fantastic for me, and I'm not an invalid or too stupid to read. Anyone who would classify a whole world of people into two categories is a bit too immature to be posting with the big people.
I agree with you, I have joint problems and this would be wonderful for when I'm reading. I don't like breaking the spins of my books so the pressure put on my thumb and pinky from holding a book causes horrible pain, not good when your reading a page turner. While i'm only 20 and have this problem; for those of you who think this is useless wait till you're older and have arthritis you will be praying for this gadget.
That's not very practical. How often do you read a book and hold it that way the whole time? Plus, what if the book is big or hardback? That item will not sell much, unless brilliantly marketed (in other words it has to become trendy).
I like the idea of addressing the issue of pages turning, but how about a simple clamping system build into every cover? That way when you turn the page you can just slide it under the 'clamp'? Seems much easier because it can be easily added to every book, and you don't even have to hold it if you don't want to.
I own one. Its pretty useful, though not comfortable to use for too long.
The most practical use for it is reading in bed. You can hold the book entirely upside down and the pages dont budge.
they look really uncomfortable, i can see thumb cramp being a serious problemo here. nice idea though
wow what a world we live in soon the cure to cancer bound to be here just get the guy who made this worthless invention on the case
Have they made any of these for the Kindle 2 yet?
That's fantastic.
BUY A KINDLE 2!! NO MORE BOOK HOLDING PROBS
useful for small books, but i seriously doubt they can actually hold larger ones
boo to kindles. theres just something about a book that makes a story better..... this is a neat doohickey but you can just use your thumb and pinky..... oh well. at least somebody is trying to help the masses :)
It seems like a book-light - useful for some people, but not necessary. I personally think it's great :D
was that the story where he wasn't passed for the brain information program and instead tapped to be part of a think tank because of his ability to learn math by reading.
Has anyone consider the possibility to ask publishers to design books in a way that we don't have to use things like this in, say, paperback editions?
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