Finally: the days where one has to read a book in one continious session are numbered. With this bookmark one can interrupt reading a book at any time. Also, the bookmark offers you an AI summary of the things that just have been read.

This is such an over-engineered and useless piece of shit tech - so ridiculous that this has to be satire. At least, this still seems to be a concept. Although the article has been posted in March 2025, I have not found any evidence that this is a joke, unfortunately. They seem to be serious with it.

  • stabby_cicada@slrpnk.net
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    73
    ·
    2 days ago

    In the last few years, people have been pointing out an emergent benefit of ink on dead tree books: there are no banner ads, no tracking cookies, no social media integration, no gamification, no information about your reading habits sent to Google’s data mines. When you buy a physical book, you own it, and nothing you do with it can be tracked, monetized, advertised, or subscriptionized.

    And I bet some tech bro heard that and said “Hold my beer”.

    • nicerdicer@feddit.orgOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      33
      ·
      1 day ago

      And that’s the problem with books - from a tech bros perspective. Once bought, books can’t be monetized any further. They can even be shared at no cost. If libraries weren’t a thing already, their introduction today wouldn’t be possible.

    • AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 day ago

      Biggest reason I absolutely LOVE my manga collection. No way an advertiser can insert their bullshit after I’ve purchased a physical volume or collection.

      • Denjin@feddit.uk
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        9
        ·
        1 day ago

        And my wank mags. Try and make me verify my age to look at pictures of boobies will you?!

        • Dasus@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          20 hours ago

          Pretty sure those were always age restricted unless you stole them. And since they were usually on the highest shelves, the kids wouldn’t easily reach them to steal them.

          And the cashier would prolly ask for your ID.

          Ofc you could alway find some in their natural habitat; the woods. A discarded and perhaps slightly sticky edition.

    • Eq0@literature.cafe
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      That’s why i dislike reading on kindle. The comfort still outweighs the cons, but when it gives me “estimated reading times” my skin crawls

    • shalafi@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 day ago

      I have a $25 shit tablet from Amazon and pirate epubs. They’re also backed up a few ways on my network and offsite.