What Is the Future of the Printed Books in the Digital Age?

What is the future of the printed books in the digital age?

Regardless of whether you prefer printed books or the digital provisions - Kindle, e-books, iPads, Amazon, Slate, among others, it remains a bare fact that the contemporary lifestyles are comparatively more accommodative of the digital media than their printed counterparts. Over the past centuries, printed books had been the main media for dissemination of stories, histories, and ideas, all this has however, changed since books can be rendered electronically. Malik (2012)'s report where the sale of kindle eBooks overtook that of Amazon print books (in every 100 hardback/paperback books sold in the United Kingdom, 114 eBooks are downloaded), is just one among many other studies and reports that have predicted a gloomy future for printed books.

The resilience and flexibility of printed books to synchronise with changing reading preferences over the years confirms that that both the digital reading platform and the printed media will have to content their place among readers. The printing industry has had to go through massive changes in the past, this has been triggered by a resilience to remain relevant in a book age shaped and transformed by the digital revolution of computers, smartphones, tablet computers, and the internet (Thompson 2005).

Even though the role of the print books is changing - it is no longer the major/most efficient supplier of information and communication, it remain considerably pertinent for a number of reasons (Beaton 2013). People prefer printed books because they are easily sharable physically and can be given out physically as presents and gifts, something cannot be adequately met by the digital books. Likewise, the engagement/concentration level while reading a printed book is a valuable aspect for most readers. Printed books also tend to carry a tactile sense of satisfaction that has remained culturally and educationally relevant (Zickuhr, Rainie, and Purcell 2013).

Since there are certain architectural works, linguistic presentations, and artistic designs that can only be presented on print media, it is likely that printed books will stay on for as long as such disciplines remain relevant. The other benefits of printed books that guarantees their future include historical preservation, tradition, no devices nor warranty required, ease of reading, and resale value, among others (Zickuhr, Rainie, and Purcell