The feel of a book?
I've just sent a first full draft of Six Days to the printer to get a proof. The book's not finished, but this marks a milestone, if largely psychological. There's something about holding something that looks like a book and sounds like a book when dropped on a table, that signals progress in a way that no number of computer files can do.
I know that there are increasing numbers of 'electronic book readers' and logic tells me that these will replace glued together thin sheets of paper, but I still don't see it. You can replace every aspect of the book, emulate it with technology, but it's still not a book.
Of course the Electronic Reader claims to go beyond the book with the advantages of being able to carry thousands of books, and the convenience of downloading and not needing a bookshelf for the collection, the ability to connect through hyperlinks and more, but there's still something missing. I even have a tablet PC with stylus pen which I can mark-up an electronic book, but still there's something special about a real paper copy.
Of course we may soon have a generation who make no association between a book and a block of paper, just as listeners to music may soon have no association between the music they listen to and a physical form.
Maybe I'm fearing that they'll soon make no connection to the musician or author who originated the work.
Whilst technology can emulate those elements of a book that we recognise, it's powerless to replicate the elements we don't realise are there, but are important to us. There may be broader lessons for us here.
Anyway, for the moment at least, Six Days will I hope soon become a block of paper.
I know that there are increasing numbers of 'electronic book readers' and logic tells me that these will replace glued together thin sheets of paper, but I still don't see it. You can replace every aspect of the book, emulate it with technology, but it's still not a book.
Of course the Electronic Reader claims to go beyond the book with the advantages of being able to carry thousands of books, and the convenience of downloading and not needing a bookshelf for the collection, the ability to connect through hyperlinks and more, but there's still something missing. I even have a tablet PC with stylus pen which I can mark-up an electronic book, but still there's something special about a real paper copy.
Of course we may soon have a generation who make no association between a book and a block of paper, just as listeners to music may soon have no association between the music they listen to and a physical form.
Maybe I'm fearing that they'll soon make no connection to the musician or author who originated the work.
Whilst technology can emulate those elements of a book that we recognise, it's powerless to replicate the elements we don't realise are there, but are important to us. There may be broader lessons for us here.
Anyway, for the moment at least, Six Days will I hope soon become a block of paper.
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