I suppose most of us, by now, have heard about the Nook or the Kindle
and have probably even formed an opinion on the quality of e-books, or
rather, the lack of concrete, tangible paperbacks. It's indisputable that an electronic book cannot replace the experience of opening a leather-bound book, breathing in the parchment, and slowly fingering the corners of page after page: it just won't be the same. But, what is equally indisputable is that fewer trees will be cut, less gasoline will be guzzled and less money will be dispensed.
The implications of this technology are particularly important for journalistic giants, what with the anticipated "end" of newspapers and the likes.
Despite the e-book disadvantages and peoples disinterest in paying ostensibly 'free' online news subscriptions, "[The E-paper, newspaper experience] will be close enough [to its prior print self] that the convenience, the economics and the environmental considerations will make it inevitable that people will switch," says Russ Wilcox, the president of E Ink, one of many companies gearing up to invest in thinner, more colorful, more flexible, an more versatile plastic screens.
One of the leading e-paper companies is Bridgestone. Yea... a tire company!
They have some pretty incredible examples of color, flexible, thin plastic screens that are already being tested for newspaper format (as well as billboards, maps, electronically updating price-tags, and even clocks)
It seems that although the quality and detail can't beat real photographs or real books just yet, the e-paper investments are a good compromise between something portable, small, and concrete with the internet or a computer. The nooks are already sold out for Christmas, and I'm fine with that, I'm waiting for a thin, fold-able, newspaper size, color e-newspaper that I can update at a kiosk on campus or on the street, just like those newspaper metal dispensers, by inserting two quarters. But that's just a dream...
I'll leave you with a Science Central news release that compares the e-newspaper to the papers of Harry Potter
This is so weird! I havent heard of anything like it yet! I wonder how long until it effects us in our day to day lives!
ReplyDeleteWow-I never realized how sensual reading a print book could be! ;) And I never knew how romantic e-books could be--the Daily Prophet for us Muggles!
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up a good counter-argument to the print-electronic debate. I worked in a college bookstore over the summer and we sold two versions of one of the textbooks--a print version and an e-book. The e-book was cheaper and more environmentally friendly, and yet, the print book was still more popular. I myself am still torn on this issue. Especially in the world we live in today, it is so important to be environmentally conscious. Still, I love the feel of a book in my hand and I hate looking at computer screens.
I'm with Maggie. I am torn. I can certainly see the benefit of using less paper, but I have not yet be able to adjust to reading on a screen. Plus, do we know what these technologies will do to the environment over the long term? I guess I am a little old fashioned, even more than my mother - she loves e-books. I can't help it; I love the feel, the smell, the sound of the pages being turned. It's one thing that keeps this daydreamer grounded in reality! I am glad that I get to live in a generation that still gets to make a choice!! I justify my decision by using these things called libraries. : )
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