The future of reading?
E-Books (electronic books) do without paper. To read them, you need a device with the appropriate software. This can be a computer, a tablet PC (iPad), or a special gadget called an e-reader. E-reader weighs about 250 grams and can store several thousand books! E-books are normally sold in an encrypted form and can only be read by registered customers or on dedicated hardware devices.
Sadly, once the battery runs out, your reading spree ends. But on the other hand, e-readers are
different and light and you
can search for books on
them using keywords.
16th Century:
The book trade really takes off. It’s most important centers are Paris, Venice, Oxford and Cambridge.
18th/ 19th Century:
The book market blooms. Almanacs, hymn books, and novels become best-sellers. The invention of the steam engine and the typewriter, plus new illustration techniques, give the book industry even more impetus.
1990:
Digital printing takes over from Gutenberg’s typesetting procedure.
1993:
Mp3 formats and CD’s create mass audiences for the audio books.
2011:
In USA, a third of the school libraries and many public libraries work with e-books and the reading devices required for them.