Schools

Great Read Finale Features 'Hamlet's Blackberry' Author

William Powers will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lewis University; contest winners will be announced at the same event.

The 4-month program ends this week with an in-person visit from William Powers, author of Hamlet's Blackberry, the book that was the center of the program's readings, discussions and contests.

Powers will speak on his book and modern technology at 7 p.m. Thursday at Lewis University in Romeoville. The session is being held in the University Dining Room, and Powers will be available to answer questions and sign books. Light refreshments will be served.

Winners of The Great Read 2011 student and community art and writing contests will be announced and prizes awarded at the same event.

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Powers kicked off the communitywide event in January, when he spoke to students and the public via Skype.

Subsequent book discussions were held at the Plainfield, Joliet and Fountaindale libraries as well as other events, including lectures on the paperless classroom and a student-led panel on the use of technology in Plainfield. The program was sponsored by the libraries as well as and the stores in Plainfield, Joliet, Bolingbrook and Naperville.

Find out what's happening in Plainfieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In Hamlet’s Blackberry, Powers shows how, throughout history, new technological innovations have caused both excitement and anxiety. He looks at seven moments when a powerful new technology was introduced -- among them, the inventions of writing, erasable clay tablets and the printing press -- and how it initially shocked the masses.

Now the world has instantaneous communication through text messages and Internet-accessible cell phones, which also include cameras, video cameras and can stream TV. Each new invention throughout history has presented the same challenges of information overload that we currently have, Powers has written.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here