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NOTICE
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FUTURE of books
As e-books become popular, technology changes the way we read
// ANNA SOBERING
Pick up a book. Feel the weight and the texture of the cover. Flip through the smooth and glossy pages. The smell is indescribable. A book, sitting on a shelf, is like a trophy representing time spent and lessons learned. Whether a book serves as a significant reminder or not, it nevertheless sits proudly next to others, endlessly waiting to be picked up and read again.
But what happens when this is no longer how you interact with the written word?
In 2007, Amazon.com released the Kindle, a wireless reading device commonly known as an e-book reader. Other companies quickly jumped on the bandwagon, releasing similar devices to read books and other content digitally.
But these products weren't without their faults and shortcomings. The Kindle, for example, experienced complaints about its lack of backlighting and limited utility.
Photo illustration bv Adam Buhler
You have changed the way readers appreciate literature, replacing paper pages with digital screens. The e-book's advanced features even include note-taking and highlighting for studious college kids.
In 2008, Michael Eckersley, professor of interaction design, taught a graduate design class that took part in a theoretical project to redesign the first generation Kindle. The project, based on consumers' hopes and expectations for future e-book readers, allowed the students to practice redeveloping products for commerce and industry.
Eckersley says the students redesigned it to be more functional, developing the ability to share books and access wireless internet.
"We're trying to meet and anticipate student needs," Smith says. "E-book readers are something students are incredibly interested in. So far, we've had overwhelming positive feedback."
However, not everybody is enthusiastic about reading a screen instead of a traditional paper page. Ian Hrabe, 2009 graduate, doesn't think e-books could ever replace the real thing.
In the fall, because of student feedback, the University became involved in the growing circulation of e-books, making four Sony Readers available for check out at Anschutz and Watson Libraries.
Rebecca Smith, communications and advancement director for KU Libraries, says the Sony Readers have been so popular they are planning on purchasing four more.
"There's something incredibly satisfying about reading a book that does not translate to a digital medium," says Hrabe. "I guess it's like comparing an MP3 to an LP. Sure, they offer the same content but there are huge differences in the way you're actually experiencing the music."
The influx of e-book readers, however, don't necessarily mean the death of traditional print. Marian Schembari, contributing editor of digitalbookworld.com, doesn't deny the disadvantages of e-books.
"First of all, as a book lover I'd prefer to curl up with a book, not some device," she says. "I also love the smell of books, and that's not something you can get with a Kindle or a Sony Reader."
Schembari also says she doesn't think that print books will ever completely cease to exist. "People also collect books. It's hard to collect PDFs," she says.
One aspect of e-book readers that's exciting for students is the possibility of replacing traditionally heavy and expensive textbooks with one digital device.
Over time, as new devices are released with
"There are so many cool options like looking up words directly on the device, highlighting, note taking capabilities and videos embedded directly into the 'book'," Schembari says.
The biggest problem holding back e-book sales is the cost. Ranging from roughly $250 to $1,000, people are still hesitant to put their money into something that is likely to improve as the technology develops. However, for frequent book buyers, it may be more economical to buy an e-book reader.
The newly released Apple iPad mentioned the ability to download textbooks, but did not go into detail about future capabilities. The iPad is less of an e-book reader and more like an oversized iPod Touch on a 9.7 inch LED-backlit screen. Among its features, the iPad allows for application downloads, internet browsing, e-mail access, photo and video display, GPS access, and an iBook reader through the iBook app. The Wifi version will be available at the end of March and ranges from $499-$699. The 3G version will be available at the end of April and ranges from $629-$829.
more functions and sleeker formats, e-books will become more entrenched in our everyday lives. Whether we are checking them out from the library or buying one for our own personal convenience, e-books have a place in the future of book and media formats. Jp
PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET
Of the slew of e-book readers available on the market to date, this list of second generation products reflects items at a variety of different price points. Each reader features different attributes including touch screens, wireless access, and additional applications.
Sony Reader Touch Edition
$299.99
QUE proReader Foxix eSlick Reader
by Plastic Logic $259.99
$649.00
iRex Digital Reader $599.00
Apple ipad Barnes & Noble Nook
$499.00 $259.00
Amazon Kindle DX Intered COOL-ER
$489.00 $249.00
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