And I feel fine? Hmmm…not sure.
Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers recently posted a blog article entitled “The End of Book Publishing As We Know It” in which he discusses how the publishing industry is going to have to completely rethink how it does business. He was prompted to write the article after seeing a demo for the “SI Tablet.” (The demo is posted in his article.)
He brings up some fascinating points including that standard “books” as we know them will go away, just like 8 tracks and the like. I believe at some point, that’s probably true. They may not go away completely, but just like iPods replaced Walkman’s and CD players, so will the E-Reader replace standard books. That’s just the way of things, and in a lot of ways, it’s very exciting.
There was one point that bothered me though. Mr. Hyatt states that, “These new technologies promise to create reading experiences (if we can call them that) that are more sensual, more imaginative, and more compelling than simple text alone can provide.”
Ok, I have to admit, I like a lot of the new technology. I love my Netbook, my iPod, and I enter every Kindle contest I can find, but the above statement disturbed me because what are books, if not a way to expand our OWN imaginations and sensory images?
I have a hard time getting through a book where an author tries to think for me, example: “He turned his eyes to the floor, because he was ashamed.” What’s the fun in a device that will spoon serve the book to me, sensory images and all? The E-Readers that are out now, you still have to READ them, so I don’t feel like the traditional ‘book’ is as threatened by them as they are by something that promises to turn a reading experience into something more.
Granted, his statement is a little vague. He doesn’t state specifically that these new devices will eventually have crazy things like sound effects and smell effects that will trigger at certain points and “enhance” the reading experience, but it does make me wonder what DOES he mean? At what point is this technology too much?
What are your thoughts?
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6 users responded in this post
Vanessa,
I, too, have been keeping an eye on the new Technology. Like you, I would love to have a Kindle Device of my own.
I predict that technology will, however, bring new challenges. I try to picture myself curled up in front of the fireplace with a kindle, instead of a worn old paperback and something is lacking.
I can say, though, that all of the extra shelf space (vacated by books) would be a welcome sight in my cluttered office!
Write On,
[...] what are books, if not a way to expand our OWN imaginations and sensory images?
I see your point and concern Vr, but book content delivery systems and learning processes (like being taught in a school setting), have been changing and will change further.
We all have personal concerns and comfort levels with; our knowledge base, things that visually or physically appeal to us, our personal tastes…but as time progresses and we age we adapt, to some degree. Some individuals go to extreme lengths to counter this adaption. It’s a choice we all make.
Thinking about my age and mortality and my marketing background these tech advancements (publishing), excite me. I must covet these new advancements as they spell future earnings not just for me but will provide a legacy income stream for my others.
Indeed these are exciting times to be an author. Like you, nothing warms me more than a phrase properly turned, so to speak. But to forego these new advances would be to forego marketing (and sales) to “smaller” populations. Now we don’t want to do that…do we?
Hey Garry,
No I would DEFINITELY not want to forego new advances, but I’m wondering if we can’t have a compromise. The new technology is VERY exciting, indeed. However, (and I’m coming at this as a mother of a small child) should we get rid of old paper books completely?
My child is just learning to read and I think it’s helped her development immensely to read paper books, and be able to form her own pictures in her head, etc. If she had a device that did all the thinking for her, how would that be any different than a television?
For grown ups who already know how to read, I think it’s a totally different bag of worms. My concern is what ripple effects will we see when we reach the point where we have several generations of humans who have done most of their reading intake with an electronic device (not a nook or a Kindle, but this next generation type that “enhances” the experience) rather than a regular book?
But to your point, from a marketing perspective, you’re 100% right. As writers, we cannot ignore or forego the new technology. To do so would be to be career suicide.
Hey V –
Nice blog!
About the end of printed books – I don’t think thay will all go away. There are just too many of us who just love the smell of a brand new book when we’re reading it.
Like vinyl records, I think there will be a somewhat small niche market for those of us bibliophiles who like to do things the old fashioned way. I still like to flip pages and write personal notes to myself in my books. You can’t do that on a kindle.
I have rediscovered the stubby pencil for writing. It slows me down and makes the thoughts go on the page core coherently than word processing.
Children learn the joy of reading by flipping through picture books. A picture kindle? I don’t think so. Seems kind of low tech compared to the HDTV in the living room. They may as well watch TV. Kids will probably stop reading for pleasure.
I think someday technology will fail and then we’ll be back to reading books by the light of a candle. That’s ok with me the simple life is looking better and better.
When they stop publishing on paper, I’ll be one of the newest used book store owners selling and trading in printed antiques. Look for it in MI – it will be called The Book Nook. In fact, I may do it before then. I can’t imagine life without paper books.
Karen
…it’s difficult for me to articulate my point…you say Vr that you think your daughter is being helped immensely by paper books…further, being able to ‘form her own pictures in her head’…how is the device going to diminish from that ‘picture in her head’ …honestly, do you think having a ‘device’ will cause your daughter (or anyone) to think or imagine less? …thus, I suppose, using less of their imagination, less of their brain? Should a reader at some point in their viewing/reading text on a new generation kindle, whatever, come across a link (notably conspicuous or colored type), and they click on it and it reveals a incredible full color pic or video…tell me this will not add to the enjoyment, the completeness of the reading experience.
Why do you concern–about ripple effect of generations of readers who only know of the ‘device?’ …what is your concern? …that they have missed something in their life by not experiencing the printed paper page? As a mother with a young daughter…there will be many occasions when you will notice how smart she is, how adept she is to all this, how much advanced knowledge-wise she is compared to you at her age. It happens. I’ve seen it in my kids and my grandkids. Embrace it, nourish it, encourage it.
Karen, I don’t know where to begin. See above.
Hi Karen!!
Hey Garry,
No I see your point, and my ‘beef’ isn’t about devices in general. And I see your point about being able to click on a link and seeing an image or some such that will enhance the reading experience. My concern is that if we spoon feed people sensory images, especially starting at a young age, then they will not develop the ability to create these images on their own. They will not have the kind of imagination it takes to read some text and create a world within their head to gel with what they are reading. Why would they, if all the have to do is click on a link and have that image given to them? Imagination is important, and not just in artistic endeavors.
The device itself isn’t the problem. Reading on a Kindle is still reading. It’s all the other things that it could snowball into that is what I wonder about.
All said, it will be interesting to see where all this technology takes us!!
-Vanessa
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