Emeka Nwagwuna
Over the years, printed books have been the undisputed medium of expressing thoughts, transferring knowledge, storing information, and codifying laws. This method of communicating ideals dates back to 500 years. In the past, printed books were the only source of materials available to students studying for exams, for citizens seeking to access recorded information and even for the religious searching the scriptures. Indeed it was at a time, the only source of mass media. The reliance on printed books alone for all of these have been altered by the advent of the digital age and the hitherto impact of printed books, appears to have waned. Applications like internet, kindlers, Ipad and so on have affected the frequency of use of the printed books. Virtually every aspect of man’s activities is now either been captured or influenced by automation. These adaptations and the far reaching impact it has calls to question the future of printed books
Digital age has witnessed the birth of technologies that have changed the way we do things. In music, sounds can now be composed without the usual guitars, pianos etc but by means of an electronic mixer. In journalism, reports are now being sent to studios and publishing houses via Skype, e-mails and other digital formats without waiting to send hard copies. Digital technologies more than anything else, has brought economic efficiencies in industries, journalism, sports, entertainment and even in the way we read books. Today, books are adapted on digital forms in what we now call e-books. It is now easier to flip through pages of books on internet within a short time, than it would have been any other time in the history of printed books. Students can quickly check on materials online and hand in their assignments on time. This, no doubt has affected the frequency of print books usage.
In spite of the obvious dwindling use of printed books, it holds considerable merits that may be lacking in digital substitution. Printed books are physical and therefore create a special feeling of ownership satisfaction for persons possessing them. Similarly, printed books can be stored on the shelf with other books in special ways. Indeed, the storage pattern of books also creates aesthetic values to homes and offices. Printed books even till today, is the first medium of transfer of knowledge in formal education.
The advantages of the digital alternatives to printed books are enormous; however, the future of printed books is anchored on the inadequacies inherent in its alternatives. To this extent, the printed books will continue to exist and significantly so. This conclusion can further be appreciated when we realise that there can hardly be a digital substitute for some real or cultural values that printed books provide. For instance, even though modern laws of states can be reproduced electronically, it is not known that any government in contemporary times codifies its laws without recourse to printed books. It is even unthinkable for any government to do so in our life time. Similarly, it is inconceivable for operational licences and school certificates and even birth certificates to be issued without first recourse to printed books.
In many parts of Africa and other developing regions of the world where digital penetration is low, printed books come in handy above all else. In addition, with the epileptic power situation in Nigeria, digital substitute to printed books makes little sense for obvious reasons. It is also important to highlight the fact that with the aid of digital technology, we now have more beautiful book covers. And we shall continue to have more in the future. It is also more cost effective to advertise books online than on print media.
Another reason in favour of printed books is the fact that digital records are susceptible to manipulations by corrupt persons. In other words, it is easier to criminally alter records in digital forms than it would have been with printed books. In these days of information theft, printed books still remain safe as a secured platform for recorded information even within the context of a digital revolution.
