| While the humble book has been around in its | | | | reduce the number of paper books read. The fact |
| present form for a long time, there are reasons | | | | that book readers can convert text to audio will |
| to believe technology is about to bring major | | | | also increase the popularity of listing to books. |
| changes to the whole book experience. In the | | | | Online access |
| relatively near future, technology may make | | | | With things like online cookbooks, dictionaries, |
| printing books on dead trees look as dated as | | | | encyclopedias and the like, there is less need to |
| carving words into stone. | | | | buy paper books. As computer screens become |
| Books and technology until now | | | | more portable and move into places like kitchens, |
| Paper books have held up pretty well against | | | | this trend will accelerate. |
| technology until now. While inventions like TV, | | | | Other learning devices |
| radio, videos and computer games have reduced | | | | Not long ago, the only way to study something |
| the time people devote to reading, there still is no | | | | like a language was to buy a book. Now, |
| replacement for the type of experience the | | | | computer programs and software applications on |
| paper book offers. However, this is finally | | | | devices like iPhones make it possible to study |
| changing. | | | | things in ways that do not require paper. Often, |
| E-book readers | | | | these methods of studying are far more engaging |
| The most obvious challenge to the paper book is | | | | too. These types of applications will decrease the |
| the e-book reader. They offer instant access, | | | | need for both paper and electronic books. |
| lower costs, the ability to carry thousands of | | | | Online reading and publishing |
| books at once, constant updates and other | | | | People increasing go online to get information they |
| interactive features such as built in dictionaries | | | | would have bought books for in the past. |
| that traditional books cannot. | | | | Furthermore, the internet allows people who |
| Until now, costs, reluctance to change, the ability | | | | would have never tried to publish things before to |
| to access any page instantly and the like have | | | | create digital content that can be sold online. This |
| kept book readers from mass appeal. However, | | | | trend will accelerate as its acceptance grows and |
| with costs rapidly dropping and every new | | | | the ways in which people can read this content |
| generation of book readers offering more | | | | improves with technology. |
| functionality, they increasingly offer everything a | | | | While it is premature to predict the end of paper |
| paper book does and more. | | | | books, it is safe to assume that the next decade |
| Audio books | | | | will see accelerated change. The technology will |
| There are many situations where listening to | | | | certainly improve, and those who want to stick |
| rather than reading a book is more practical. Now | | | | with paper may see higher prices as smaller |
| that most people have the ability to listen to | | | | printing runs bring increased costs. It is only a |
| books on their phones and many other devices, it | | | | question of how far the changes will go. |
| is likely that audio books will grow in popularity and | | | | |