A conversation about journalism, the internet, media, trust, truth, libraries & archives, social networks & publishing, and the democratisation of doubt - with occasional photographs and a nod to cinema.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Talking Today
And this is what about. More text when I've talked.
I just listened to your talk, and the rest of the panel speak, on e-books and the future of publishing. I am in the web content industry, and am very enthused about the future of communication, collaboration and research that the Web promises. The talks today were focussed on the future of newspapers, research and academic books, which all would benefit greatly from e-publishing. This would allow people to access the books more easily, quickly and in a more timely fashion (as paper books of this order are out of date so quickly). I can also see how e-books could increase collaboration amongst academics and like-minded people. However, and this is the very big BUT for me, reading for pleasure was not mentioned. Although I am a webophile, I am also a bibliophile and the joy of reading for pleasure is only partly about the material I am reading. It is far more the tactile pleasure I get from holding a paperback or hardback, the joy of turning the pages, of seeing the progress I have made through the book, the smell of the paper and the floppiness of a well-read book. I can see a future where e-books live alongside printed books, both will have different roles (research, acadmic versus pleasure) and will fulfill different needs, but I believe, and sincerely hope, that the printed word is not dead.
I believe this as well. I too take great joy from books, and if you take a look at my other blog, Betwixt Europe, which is about a 400 year old book, and my recreation of the journey which it describes, you will I hope see that I think tactile print and smooth plasma can live together in some harmony. I worry about money. I don't think a lot of books will get published in the future unless they are first published electronically. Print may become the luxury. Like vinyl editions of MP3s...There are different needs and roles for different kinds of books, but there are also magnificent opportunities for collaborative reading, writing, annotating and researching with e-books - and I must emphasize e-readers. The printed word is not dead, it's just looking a little pale and flu-ridden right now.
2 comments:
I just listened to your talk, and the rest of the panel speak, on e-books and the future of publishing. I am in the web content industry, and am very enthused about the future of communication, collaboration and research that the Web promises. The talks today were focussed on the future of newspapers, research and academic books, which all would benefit greatly from e-publishing. This would allow people to access the books more easily, quickly and in a more timely fashion (as paper books of this order are out of date so quickly). I can also see how e-books could increase collaboration amongst academics and like-minded people. However, and this is the very big BUT for me, reading for pleasure was not mentioned. Although I am a webophile, I am also a bibliophile and the joy of reading for pleasure is only partly about the material I am reading. It is far more the tactile pleasure I get from holding a paperback or hardback, the joy of turning the pages, of seeing the progress I have made through the book, the smell of the paper and the floppiness of a well-read book. I can see a future where e-books live alongside printed books, both will have different roles (research, acadmic versus pleasure) and will fulfill different needs, but I believe, and sincerely hope, that the printed word is not dead.
I believe this as well. I too take great joy from books, and if you take a look at my other blog, Betwixt Europe, which is about a 400 year old book, and my recreation of the journey which it describes, you will I hope see that I think tactile print and smooth plasma can live together in some harmony. I worry about money. I don't think a lot of books will get published in the future unless they are first published electronically. Print may become the luxury. Like vinyl editions of MP3s...There are different needs and roles for different kinds of books, but there are also magnificent opportunities for collaborative reading, writing, annotating and researching with e-books - and I must emphasize e-readers. The printed word is not dead, it's just looking a little pale and flu-ridden right now.
Robin
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