The Future of Reading

I have become increasingly interested in publishing and the changing landscape as it pertains to technology. I have written about the e-book evolution, the “almost launched” iPad, the push in magazine sales, and the struggle of daily newspapers.
I don't know how this will all turn out but my guess is that daily newspapers will be the first real casualty of our “i” world. Not an earth shattering prediction and certainly not a revolutionary thought however, will magazines be the next to go. And short of simply swapping traditional print for an electronic screen what else will happen.

I admit to being a fan of novels…black print on some variation of a whitish paper with a hard cover and dust jacket or great soft cover. While I was impressed with the confidence of the woman I saw recently, who brought her Kindle to the beach, I’m not sold. It just seems like there is not enough to it. On the other hand, the iPad or some similar technology will most certainly take us further. Although I would argue that the iPad is not advancement but simply a reworking of what exists, I can see it being the new newspaper, the new reference book, and the new magazine. I found the Vook interesting and one of many applications to come. It is not difficult to see the value in having a Food Network chef walking you though a recipe at your pace but as I have mentioned before, I don’t need pictures or video to make my fiction reading more enjoyable.

I also admit to being a fan of magazines. Glossy, colourful, packed with too many ads, and home to all sorts of hidden stories waiting to be found. I leaf through a magazine, pick out a few articles that I am interested in, and start by reading those. Then I dig a bit deeper, reading the “in between” stories, the side bar stories. Then I look through page by page to make sure I haven’t missed something interesting.

OK – so I don’t do this with every magazine I buy, but I do it with a few each month. I’m afraid that scrolling through the headlines on my iPad will render the experience less of a discovery and much more like reading a newspaper. And, will a Vanity Fair or Esquire interview become more like a cross between 60 Minutes and Entertainment Tonight? If we integrate the technology, how can it not?

With all this in mind, I throw out my third admission. I am starting to feel the need for an iPad. I am not sure if it is simply the lure of a new gadget or not wanting to be the only one in Starbucks with my $6 latte using a laptop but…I can’t help it. I want one and they are not even available yet!

Cheers and have a great day!
George