The substrate is immaterial

Gene Expression
By Razib Khan
Jan 10, 2013 9:41 AMNov 20, 2019 2:06 AM

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
 

After my last post on inevitable nature of the shift of the book toward electronic formats, I revisited the data which highlights the decline in sales of e-readers. Some of this is probably competition with tablets. But I've had the same Kindle for two and a half years. I got a newer version of the Kindle for my wife, but have seen no need for me to upgrade (and, I got a Kindle Fire for my daughter). Why? The point of e-readers is the content, not the delivery. This reiterates that "e-books" aren't revolutionary, they're evolutionary, and the fixation on technology is going to be transient. A true revolution in information transmission and delivery would be a direct data port, which would transform "publishing" in a much deeper fashion than the digitization of type and script.

1 free article left
Want More? Get unlimited access for as low as $1.99/month

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

1 free articleSubscribe
Discover Magazine Logo
Want more?

Keep reading for as low as $1.99!

Subscribe

Already a subscriber?

Register or Log In

More From Discover
Stay Curious
Join
Our List

Sign up for our weekly science updates.

 
Subscribe
To The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Copyright © 2025 LabX Media Group