We all know of the great marvels and vast benefits that technology has given us, specifically certain inventions and devices. From radio to TV, computers to smart phones, there have been plenty of ingenious innovations throughout the years. One such technological innovation is the creation of the e-reader (and the Nook and Kindle), which in particular has reshaped the publishing industry. A single unit is capable of storing over a thousand books worth of text and information, which led people to speculate that maybe printed books might one day vanish…
Well, I’m here to tell you that it isn’t going to happen, nor should it. Sure, the Internet is a great way to search for and find information, and I myself use it when writing papers and essays. But, teachers ALWAYS require their students to dust off and crack open books to not only find information, but also site it within their respective papers. Getting back to the rise of e-readers, yes: they do store more books than most people’s book selves ever could, and yes: it’s much more cost and time efficient to reproduce and distribute books electronically. But when it comes down to it, no technology can is quite able to capture the experience and almost culture-like way of reading out of an actual book.
First off, staring into the screen of an e-reader, much like a computer monitor, can be very strenuous on the eyes when done for extended periods of time. Due to this, it’s not very practical or wise to read from an e-reader often… Additionally, books and reading has evolved beyond gathering information: It has transcended to become a hobby, a way of life, niches and communities for certain people within the world; books has been thoroughly entwined into our lives. Companies such as Barnes & Nobles and Borders have sustained communities of book lovers, who congregate at the stores’ lounge-like layout to read, relax, and enjoy themselves. There’s a certain feeling and experience that comes from holding a book that any e-reader cannot emulate… People who enjoy reading as a hobby have effectively made owning and reading books a lifestyle, and that is something that can’t be overtaken and replaced so easily.
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