Meet David Farrow and the Sony Reader Marathon

Posted by: dgoldring on Sep 28 2008

Have you ever heard of David Farrow?  Probably not.  who is he?  well, let’s start with who he was.  A dyslexic young kid with Attention Deficit Disorder.  What does this have to do with the Sony Reader?  Well, it seems that Farrow has long since overcome these challenges and become a World-renowned speed reader, as well as a Guinness World Record holder for memory.  That is part 1.

Part 2 starts with the designation of October as the Sony Electronics “Reader Revolution.”  This brand new program is designed to, “combat a nationwide decline in reading, particularly among young people.”

In order to raise awareness and help celebrate the Sony Electronics Reader Revolution, Farrow is going to spend 30 days (720 hours) living in this storefront window, reading books on his Sony Reader (and boy am i jealous).  For every page he turns, Sony will give an eBook library of 100 classic titles to a U.S. school. 

Read on for more details from the press release.  And watch this space for my full review of the Sony Reader 505.

Who:               David Farrow, who overcame his own challenges with dyslexia and Attention Deficit Disorder to become a World-renowned speed reader and Guinness World Record-holder for memory, will live and read his way through 30 days (or 720 hours) in a front window display space in New York City to coincide with National Book Month.

What:             In an effort to combat a nationwide decline in reading, particularly among young people, Sony Electronics is spearheading a “Reader Revolution” in October and beyond with the goal of sparking the imaginations of young readers and engaging the public in digital reading.

For every page Farrow turns on his Sony Digital Reader, Sony will give an eBook library of 100 classic titles to a U.S. school. Sony’s goal is to provide 150,000 eBook libraries, or 15 million eBook classics, to schools and learning institutions nationwide.

Consumers also can get in on the Reader Revolution and donate eBook libraries to a school of their choice by visiting Sony.com/Reader and completing a short online demonstration of the Sony Reader product. In addition to the eBook libraries, the first 100 schools to begin downloading their eBook classics will receive an education pack of five Sony Reader Digital Books.

New Yorkers are also invited to step into the window space and experience the Sony Digital Reader first hand by becoming Farrow’s “relief readers” during his break times. Every page turned by a relief reader goes towards the overall donation goal of 150,000 eBook libraries.

Why:               Americans are spending less time reading and nearly half of allAmericans ages 18 to 24 read no books for pleasure, states a 2007 National Endowment of the Arts study.

Melding the two worlds of technology and literature, Sony’s Reader Revolution aims to make reading new again and change the way young adults feel about books.

When:             Sony Reader Revolution “Read-in” Window Media Unveiling and Launch Event Wednesday, Oct. 1, 10 a.m. EDT

And ongoing 24/7 – Wed., Oct. 1 through Thurs., Oct. 30

Where:           Manhattan electronics retailer, Datavision, located at 445 5^th Ave. at E. 39^th St. in New York City.

So, if you are in the New York, be sure to check out Farrow and his reading window.  Even if you are not in new York, check out the website and enter your school to win a free electronic library. 

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