A book signing machine

What a stupid thing! According to this Guardian article there is a machine that can sign books without the author having to do it. In order to promote their books, authors visit various places around the world, participate in “meet the author” events, and personally sign the books that people purchase from that place.

In the first place, why do we get a book signed, or for that matter, get someone’s autographs? Is it for the sake of hieroglyphic appreciation? A signature means we have been in the proximity of the person who has blessed us with his or her signature. It’s kind of an evidence. It says, “Look, I was with that person.” That is why we get autographs.

I would never get my book autographed like this, not even from Garcia.