Are We There Yet? The Transformation and Redefinition of the Book as We Know It
One of the most important technological changes to take place in human history was the invention and adoption of movable type printing presses. Since then, the production of books has changed substantially and today many books are never printed but transferred digitally. The e-book is increasing in popularity and many of Amazon’s and other major retailers sell books sometimes solely as e-books. This paper, will explore the current transition to e-books and what comes next after e-books. How is an e-book different from a regular book apart from being access through a different medium? How information is currently shared in published format and how will it be shared as we move into the future? This paper will analyze the different licensing options that are currently available, and ways in which e-books are transforming learning.
Some of the topics that will be highlighted will be, the development of wikibooks, and booksprints, along with other different ways of producing books and how these are different from the traditional forms of production. The growth of information and our capacity to manage this growth in information production will also be emphasized. This paper will invite the reader to wonder about the meaning of a book in the 21st century, and how these changes are impacting our access, consumption and retention of information. Formatting changes will also be discussed. As we move into a future with Google Glasses and other mediums for the consumption of media, how are these changes impacting the development and distribution of books? Do images, videos, and interactive infographics enhance books? What is beyond Touchpress and the Gutenberg Project? How is the University of Minnesota tacking this modern challenge? How will the library look in the future (5, 10, and 15 years from now).
