| Re: Exodus
Hi 73, do you mean the technology on which you would download and read a digital book? Or the concept of producing paper versions digitally? There are all sorts of issues over copyright and how to make sure authors would earn fair royalties if the right to copy and sell your work were open to everyone (it's hard enough to get fair royalties now, believe me).
I'm in two minds about the technology. Right now, I don't think there's anything to beat the technology of a paperback book - it's cheap, lightweight, you can take it anywhere, don't need batteries, etc...I've had books survive being dropped in baths and run over by buses. I'd argue it's one of the best bits of technology ever invented! And I love to own bookshelves full of actual books - I'm not sure if even the best digital book (paper or downloaded) can replace that. (But who knows? I've grown to love my laptop and ipod and can't imagine life without them though I've only had them a few years...)
But the other, green side of me says books downloaded without paper on a portable device must be the way to go, environmentally. No more chopping down forests, pulping excess copies.... but then it does use plastic, batteries, energy, so it is very green?
I'm interested to see how the technology will evolve.
What do you think? |