As the world is constantly moving towards a more technologically advanced period, one always wonders “what is the next big thing?” Everything that we use from cars, cellphones to books we are always on the lookout for ‘next big thing’. With regards to books, authors, publishers, book sellers and readers are also asking themselves this question.
For hundreds of years the use of paper was uncontested unlike the use of its relative medias, the VHS tapes, vinyl records which have ceased being used- unless by antique collectors- they have been replaced by more advanced devices and you have to wonder if paper books will have the same fate. In recent years the introduction of e-books and e-readers has left people wondering if this is the future of books.
Electronic books (e-books) “is a book length publication in data form consisting of text, image, or both and production on through and readable on computer or other electronic devices.”[i] And e-book reader is’ a mobile electronic device that is designed to primarily for the purpose of reading e-books and periodics’[ii].
The vital thing that paper books and e-books provide is that you are able to read a book, but they both have their advantages and disadvantages. The paper books’ advantages they are portable, easily accessible as you can get a book shop or library anywhere, they are cheap if they are bought, they do not cause much eye strain to readers. And its disadvantages of paper books is that if you are carrying more than one book they can get heavy, a light source is needed to read the paper books, easily damaged. The advantages of e-books is; they are portable can have more than multiple e-books on one device; it is easy to read as you can zoom in, change the font[iii]. The disadvantages the e-reader needs to recharged, the looking after of the e-reader if water is spilled or dropped it can be broken, and some websites can cause your e-reader to freeze.
With an increase in the trend of using e-readers, the publishers and authors need to change in the way they do business in selling paper books and focus on e-books. I think the next best technology for books will e-books as people want things that are faster and convenient for their life styles.
Author Sesta Chauke
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