Reading books sans leaves

Can you make omelettes without eggs or read books without leaves? Maybe a few years ago we could have answered both questions with a definite ‘No’. Even today we cannot make omelettes without eggs, but we can read books sans leaves. An e-book or electronic book is a technological marvel and we cannot even imagine what will surprise us in the future.

Also written as “eBook” or “ebook”, an electronic book is an e-text that forms the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book. We usually read e-books on personal computers or smart phones. There are also special hardware known as “e-book readers” or “e-book devices” which help us to read e-books. Today it is not surprising to download an e-book to your mobile phone and read it at leisure. e-books have revolutionised the reading habit that has its roots in the distant past. Before printing was introduced, people used to read writings on clay slabs or stones. Later people used papyrus, ola leaves and then paper to write their thoughts. We have a treasure trove of religious books written on ola leaves and preserved in Buddhist temples. They were written manually with care and dedication.

Source of knowledge

With the introduction of the printing press, books became a cheaper source of knowledge. In fact, if not for the printed books, education would not have spread far and wide. Parents and teachers always encouraged children to read books to widen their knowledge. Gradually, people began to collect books and put up libraries. In addition to public libraries, there are many private libraries with large collections of books on diverse subjects.

e-books have revolutionised the reading habit

When the people are quite comfortable with printed books, the entry of e-books would have taken them by surprise. Of course, the early e-books were generally written for limited audiences. They were primarily meant to be read by small groups because the scope of the subject matter was technology and science. However, in the course of time, e-books proliferated into other subject areas, making a dramatic impact on the reading public. Major software companies diversified the e-book market to embrace a wider readership.

When publishers began to distribute e-books on various other subjects including novels and short stories, a mini revolution began in the world of reading. Many authors whose books had not been accepted by reputed publishers offered their work online.

Internet

Sometimes, catalogues of books were made available over the internet and sites devoted to e-books began disseminating information about them. While this was happening, some books were made available as e-books and in the printed format.

Today the e-book market has come to stay. Some publishers produce only the electronic version of their books. If there is a demand for the printed version, it is done on demand. However, books are traditionally printed and published. The electronic version is produced at the discretion of the author. A few local authors too have published e-books, but the local electronic book industry is still in its infancy. e-books have their advantages and disadvantages. For instance, a single e-book reader containing several books is easier to carry than several printed books. Unlike in printed books, the font size and font face can be adjusted to suit the reader. This is a great advantage for elderly readers or those with vision problems. Unlike printed books, e-books allow animated images or multimedia clips to be embedded in the book. On the other hand, although e-book readers are costly, the electronic texts are generally cheap.

Raw material

The biggest advantage of e-books is that it does not consume paper and ink. For instance, a printed book uses three times more raw material and 78 times more water to produce it.

One disadvantage of e-books is that electronic devices and software are expensive. e-book readers also need electrical power. Readers need battery power when they are on the move. As with many other technological devices, e-book readers can malfunction at any time due to faults in hardware or software. On the other hand, if an e-book is lost or stolen, the cost of replacement can be prohibitive.

Some people find it difficult to read e-books because it causes eye strain. Unlike a printed book, an e-book is not safe from electromagnetic pulses and overloads. What is more, a printed book may last a lifetime, but an e-book may need constant repairs and maintenance.

At least for the older generation, a printed book with its attractive cover, the smell of paper and ink and the sense of belonging cannot be replaced with an e-book.