What Does The Future Hold For Reading In The Digital World
Reading is among the oldest cultural activities known to man. It hasn’t altered significantly for hundreds of years. There have been changes in the technology used to publish, handwritten manuscripts gave way to the printing press, handset type gave way to computerised printing presses – but basically we read words that were printed on paper. However, it does seem as if there is set to be a major change in reading thanks to the introduction of electronic books readers.
Devices such as the Amazon Kindle reader let readers download books electronically and read them on the reader itself. There are no printing, no ink and no physical product distribution costs. All of this means that e-books are not only less expensive to buy but better for the environment as well.
Newspapers and magazines can be delivered wirelessly to your Kindle reader.Currently Amazon have the only reader device with wireless connectivity – but Sony will be releasing their own wireless reader – the Sony Daily Edition reader – in December 2009. Other manufacturers, such as Apple, Samsung and Plastic Logic, have new readers either due for release in the near future or in the pipeline.
In the academic publishing world, normally thought of as very traditional, electronic textbooks have already been introduced. A number of educational establishments have partnered with Amazon, to take advantage of the large format Kindle DX’s suitability to display text with graphics and pictures. In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced that his state will make free electronic textbooks available to students. This program has already started, having been launched for selected academic subjects in the Fall of 2009.
Meanwhile, in Washington, the New Democratic Leadership Council released a white paper titled “A Kindle In Every Backpack”. The paper called for the free issue of electronic textbooks to students as a way of both reducing costs and keeping textbooks more current.
Even the manner in which we borrow library books may soon change. Sony’s Daily Edition reader will have software which, when used in conjunction with local libraries, will allow members to download electronic books “on loan”. At the end of the loan period the e-book will simply delete itself from the reader.
It seems that almost every aspect of reading and publishing – normally thought of as a very conservative and traditional area – is undergoing a major transformation. Electronic book readers, and the e-books which are stored and read using them – seem to be an idea whose time has come. The financial benefits, the environmental benefits and the added convenience for the end user seem set to ensure that they will become an integral part of everyday life in the near future.
