The notebook

In today’s world, the smartphone has become an indispensable tool for communication and productivity. It has made traditional forms of communication, such as the telegram, the letter, the radio, and the telephone, obsolete. While some may argue that smartphones and other smart devices will eventually replace printed books, this debate has repeatedly proven wrong. Instead, the two have come to complement each other.

As a smartphone user, I utilise it for more than just texting and calling. I also use it for productive pursuits such as reading. With the reading content packaged chiefly as PDFs, they readily adapt to the screen size of my smartphone, reducing eye strain. Additionally, I utilise Pocket to save articles found online for offline reading.

During a recent 11-hour journey by public transport, I had to keep my luggage to a minimum due to the commotion of public transport, especially during the holiday season. As such, I only carried the essentials: a change of clothes, toiletries, wallet, house keys, smartphone, and phone charger. With my new larger smartphone and bigger battery, I could save many articles and a few books for offline reading. This collection helped to pass the time and kept me engaged, especially during long stretches of highway where danger lurked. Ultimately, a smartphone is a valuable tool that has allowed me to engage in my favourite pastime – reading – even during a long and potentially hazardous journey.

As I embark on my usual bus ride, the familiar scenery fails to capture my attention. While attempting to stay mentally engaged with games and reading, an unforeseen issue arises – my phone has frozen. Despite several attempts to restart it, it refuses to cooperate. In light of not having my basic feature phone on hand, I had to format my smartphone, losing all my books, articles, games, and photos. The remaining data bundles I possess need to be revised to recover even a sixteenth of these valuable items. Although waiting to resolve this issue at home is an option, keeping my loved ones informed of my progress is necessary when travelling on Kenyan roads.

Fortunately, I had the foresight to bring along a book – a small, easily portable book that fits in one’s backpack. In my case, I had the Kenyan constitution, which I read and contemplated during my travels, even briefly considering a career change to become a lawyer. The pocket book proved valuable, with zero energy requirements, no risk of freezing, and glue accidentally poured on its pages.

A note book may be the solution for those seeking to communicate with an audience primarily off-grid or with limited access to smartphones and other smart devices. This faithful companion can be easily carried and read anywhere, making it a highly accessible way to convey important messages.