Digital Publishing

           I think that digitizing textbooks and other types of written work is going to bring about a resurgence of interest in reading and learning. In the last few years, publishing companies have been systematically losing money because the market has shifted from a predominately hard copy type of reading to one that is done online. Newspapers and magazines have especially been hit the hardest because they have to compete with news and entertainment agencies that offer free online information. Like Guy Kawasaki stated, “The customers who have already shelled out the money to buy the iPads are going to be willing to subscribe to content since they will want to use their new gadget.” The technology of reading everything online once seemed to threaten the publishing industry, but it appears that publishers that are willing to forgo the traditional methods of printing and adapt to the evolving technology will ultimately be able to once again compete in a market that has been pushing them to the side.

            I personally need a hard copy in front of me to learn, but I have to admit that the owner of Kno.com had me intrigued by his product. It is appealing to parents that their child can have everything loaded on one device instead of lugging around a heavy book bag, and that the student can interact with the content instead of just reading it. I did like the fact that the student could practice note cards as they read, or afterwards for review, because that is how I learn. The digital textbooks appear as though they would provide a better measurement for the student to see if they are truly retaining and understanding the content they are reading, especially if it is lengthy or heavy-loaded material. Also, because it is cheaper for the companies to create digital textbooks than published hard copies, they are able to pass the savings on to the consumer. This fact might mean that someone in medical school could save a lot of money on already expensive books. I think that whether we like digital books or not, they are here to stay. We may as well begin making the shift with the technology.