I agree with you Antonio Dias de Figueiredo, Books are going to live alongside technology.

Although I use online library collections for research, a process greatly aided by the access such collections afford, I would mourn the loss of physical libraries. It is still a pleasure to spend an afternoon browsing in a library, particularly through some of the older out of print works that may or may not be available online. It must be something about the dust. Many of my students do not use physical books, again, because of the ease of access to online collections. I fear they will not know the simple pleasure of turning the pages of a great book should they find themselves without a schedule on a lazy Saturday afternoon. Far from being only a romantic remembrance, reading a book is still my preference for entertainment, and for enrichment.

Jon

I can really appreciate what you say about our students. They only read online. We cannot make reference to classics like 1984. I worry they are losing the pleasures of reading. It's all pictures with Instagram and Snapchat....surface learning rather than deep learning..

And I too love libraries..used to love searching second hand bookshops, coming across lovely editions.

My interest for posing question was not just one guy from silicon valley, but several from leading computer companies in silicon valley who have seen impact of learning on their children, and they are worried about longer term implications on education.

I have a Kindle, but use for watching videos rather than reading novel. But now I'm reading alot of journal articles on my phone....

I may be old fashioned but do worry we are educating students to skim. In early stages of education, reading ability was a technology that enabled advance of oneself. Now education psychologists argue that reading, deep reading and synthesis will be a marker between those who read lightly, to those who can engage in deep substantive investigation.😊

Not possible and also not better. Technology is to facilitate not replace if so in future it's may be to think human replacement but it just give mobility facility while on the way you have to read books.

Dear Colleagues and Friends from RG,

Books are already being replaced by technology by digitizing books and creating Big Data databases of electronic versions of publications and electronic libraries of digitized documents. This process is already happening and is determined by the development of the Internet, the possibilities of spreading knowledge through new online media, and the reduction of costs of sharing and disseminating knowledge in the form of digitized materials, scientific publications and various types of monographs and other book publications. The development of the Internet of Things technology, including the ability to browse knowledge resources on smartphones, is now becoming one of the key determinants of the dissemination of knowledge resources via the Internet. More and more libraries are implementing digitization of books and other publications. On the other hand, after digitizing books in traditional libraries should also remain in their traditional form. Printed books should be stored from fire-protected underground archives, because if as a result of a serious failure of the information systems of digital libraries of digitized publications huge knowledge resources could be irretrievably destroyed.

Best wishes

Dariusz Prokopowicz

Like this Dariousz

When I see the school bag that students carry when they go to school where it is filled with heavy books. I wish to the student carry a lightweight laptop instead of this heavyweight bag. I encourage e-learning.

Hardcopies will always be needed for safery reasons as well i believe. Who can trust the future technology blindfolded? Also remember that many people get extremely tired by reading for several hours on the screen. Others even find it difficult to focus and get to understand what they read. I am one of them printing all the time!!!

I love technology and the power of finding a book anytime easily, but what can compare to the smell of the old book....

Technology is always great when used as a support for traditional books, chalk and talk. However, because electronic devices are synonymous to play there will be a problem when our children are required to think critically. Already they rely heavily on technology but at the end of the day it can only output from your contribution. Think of a calculator, if the input is wrong there could never be a correct calculation.

Thanks Colleagues for contributions

I mourn the fact students now don't know how to read a book and become immersed...they are skipping everywhere on the net but not deeply engaging

I do not think so there is no alternative to the book

Let's hope so

Do your students read novels, plays or poetry?

What do university students read?

What do university students read?

Books cannot be replaced by technology because in their own sense books are technology too. Therefore, any digital technology that come on board simply enhances accessibility, durability, portability and usability of books.

Nice thought Charles

It is digitisation I am concerned about

Do they read entire books on e reader?

Not sure they do

On Kindle I watch videos

I use phone for everything..although I do print out many journal articles to read.

But I have so many e books that never read through..I read books on phonr

I have bookcases of great editions...there is something special about reading a paper book, making notes, it feels used, and I am engaged in text

We need to make a distinction among the various types of books. Books such as novels that are read linearly, from beginning to end, will probably survive. Books, such as textbooks, references, reports, etc. that are read nonlinearly, primarily for specific content or information, are probably going to migrate to electronic publishing.

Electronic or digital information books have three critical advantages: (1) they can be searched, (2) they allow for quick and easy copying and pasting, and (3) they can be accessed via a smartphone or tablet from anywhere at anytime. There are, of course, many other advantages such as quick translations into different languages, text-to-speech options, hotlinking, etc.

The advantages of digitizing information-oriented books are so overwhelming that its hard to imagine that their hardcopy counterparts will continue to survive.

When we are totally posthumans

Books are going to live alongside technology. They will gradually turn into objects of value, for connoisseurs, with better cover design, paper quality, and illustrations. It will be natural to own two copies of the same book, one digital, to be searched, highlighted, and annotated, and another on paper, a luxury version, to be put on the living room shelf and flipped through lovingly from time to time.

Many educationalists are concerned about learning processes.

In UK Education policy being drafted to minimise phone use. As silicon valley admitted many services were to make one addicted. The senior execs of silicon valley are involved in more humanising processes as they have realized that there children are addicted and learning be affected. So books need to be used to nurture in depth analysis.

I do not think so! Both are important and complement each other.

iBooks (books that provide information) are like telephone books. Dinosaurs. Our smartphones have replaced them. iBooks are also like hardcopy tablets -- no longer needed because we compose and record electronically. Libraries are symbolic of where iBooks are headed -- to the dump. Space once reserved for shelves of hardcopy books is being repurposed as study areas. File cabinets and card catalogs are being replaced by electronic data storage and directories, Hardcopy newspapers and journals are just about dead. Electronic versions are so much better. On college campuses, hardcopy textbooks are rapidly being dumped in favor of open or cheaper electronic alternatives.

But what of depth?

Engagement in deep Learning?

Are students reading all of text..including inter alia...

Moliere

Shakespeare

Hemingway

Are students reading contemporary writers like Ishiguru??? Margaret Atwood

At university we were expected to read entire texts.. Durkheim for example.

Why are silicon owners so concerned about their own children's learning?

Is society addicted to the phone? I think I am, and I recognise it. I do lots on my phone, reading news, YouTube, order from Amazon, write lectures. But difficult to read entire novel on phone. I have used Kindle...but now more likely to watch murder mysteries on Kindle than reading novel, and I am highly educated.

Are we doing enough to ensure deep reading is followed by students in all fields. I dismay at their limited knowledge of contemporary issues...

Is this the same for all countries?

How will vital aspects of culture be carried on ?

I like Charles Zulu's reply as "books are technology too". I would like to add the fact that without "books", not just lectures or notes delivered in classes, academic and regular experiences will be difficult. Yes, technologies, particularly digital technologies are very important, but we need original work (books) that can survive when these technologies (for any reason) fail to function.

Both hard copy and electronic books have their merits.

Electronic books ensure instant access.

They reach larger audience, especially people living in remote locations or financially struggling families.

Also expedient when one travels at a short distance and cannot carry heavy luggage.

One of their negatives is that if one's hard disk burns or one's computer gets a virus, one may not be able to recoup some of his/ her books. So, one has to keep back-ups of the originals.

Another negative is that to read, a powered computer device is required.

Due to the bright computer screen, reading them in the evenings or at night may tax the eyes.

There is a lack of tactile communication with the book, which makes skimming through the text extremely easy.

On the up-side, one can highlight important thoughts/ entire passages, make deletable notes, increase letters' size, or search by key word equally easily.

Electronic books do not occupy much physical space in the house/ office.

They do not gather dust, mites or mold spores. Cannot be ruined by moisture or eaten by rats. They are good for people with allergies.

The paper versions show character and continuity (especially if a book goes through several editions), which influences the mood and becomes part of the reading experience.

The reader communicates with the entire book at the same time, rather than with separate pages of it.

There are also memories of where one bought or read the book.

Personally, I use both types. :)

Lovely questions, Beverly! I’m a paper book lover, and this includes owning a valuable paper library with books from the 17th century. However, when it comes to deep learning, the difference, for me, between paper and digital is huge, in favor of digital. After a week of work on digital documents (PDF, mobi, ePub) I have dozens (sometimes hundreds) of texts read, highlighted, annotated and reflected upon, including significant parts of books. If at any time I need to remember one detail or another, I can do it in seconds by accessing my digital library from anywhere in the world, even if I only have a mobile or an iPad with me. One must not forget, however, that digital reading is completely different from paper reading. Digital media are not just content (or book digitisations): they are powerful work environments that involve radically different practices. To be able to read digital materials effectively one must, literally, ... learn to read, again, in order to learn how to explore the power of the environment. Very little research exists on the topic, so I feel there is a lot to be discovered before genuine digital reading catches up.

I sometimes ask my myself what I would do when I travel to a VERY remote place (as anthropologists do) where no electricity, Internet or Wi-Fi services (believe me, there are places like that). Here, the magnificent other (a print/paper book) says, "I'm here...anytime, anyplace..you can read me once again". Love it.

Thanks for questions

The learning to read again Anonio is interesting as that obviously relates to work. You are right about research in field and Education technologists concerned about the in depth aspects I am concerned about.

I also have low computer skills as I make notes and such on hard copy. I organize in piles..old fashioned I know. I can do it on computer..but ideas always start by hand, and increasingly using one index finger on phone.

What I am concerned about is that everywhere philosophy, sociology, economics, literature, languages, anthropology, history are declining

I can relate to freeness if going wireless where you can take a book. I remember a few years ago in Cairo 2013, searching through old second hand bookshops I got a series of Jacki Collins trashy books. Marvelous...But I always spend loads of money on books in Cairo as you can't get them in UK and Lebanon bookshops very limited.

My husband uses his old kindle just for reading novels..

I am encouraged by support of technology and it's weaknesses....

Agree about the way one admires and touches a book is prescious

My husband just highlighted though..it's hard to Read Lord of the Rings on a Kindle as you need to keep glancing at the maps of where the shire is etc..it's all part of engaging in the words

I'm not sure getting words on computer...

So I find it difficult

But gave students read Margaret Atwood and Ishiguru..who both have had successful movies/TV series. This feminist science fiction...'blessed be the fruit'.

The medium is the message. Many of us, who have grown up with books, cannot or will not separate the hardcopy medium from the textual or graphic message. Yes, the medium changes the message to the point where the impact is no longer the same. For example, when music migrated to the digital medium, lovers of vinyl records had difficulty transitioning from analog to digital. But the vast majority made the switch for abundant practical reasons and haven't looked back. The same is true for cameras. Nearly everyone transitioned from film to digital cameras for the advantages that they represent. As I and others have stated, digital "books" have tremendous advantages over hardcopy, and those advantages accrue from the digital medium, which is the currency for the web. Beverly mentioned that a map can be easily referenced in a book. In a digital medium, a second window can be opened to display the same map while the reader moves from page to page. The map could also be enlarged, annotated, and printed if necessary. Different pages could be brought up in separate windows over two or more monitors for purposes of comparison. Passages can be copied and pasted in an editor in still another window, creating a dynamic notebook that could eventually serve as the basis for a paper. Annotating or commenting on the text in an electronic medium allows us to use the digital text without having to key it in. For the weary-eyed, we can easily expand the size or even font of the text for comfortable reading. In short, the medium is the message, and for "deep reading," the digital medium offers many advantages. Finally, one person mentioned the possibility of battery failure in some remote areas. The simple answer is that batteries are improving and users can always carry spares as well as power packs. There are even solar options. The point is that inhabitants of remote locations are actually being brought into the 21st century via digital technology. A simple smartphone provides a dynamic window, a gateway, to the world's knowledge.

Thanks James

Can you do this lying down? Probably not

Ereader great as have flexibility

What you say is great in features but that is sitting position and prob ok for work docs. New readers sounds ok but may need more than one screen. I do read on screen but will never make notes intitally until a draft review.

But all this is work focused and I am in transition..I wrote everything by hand when learning and now in the computing era.

I don't mind how students engage as long as they read. But,vthe evidence they are not reading articles as they just skim, and howm many reading? None playing games that I would do as a teenager. We need somehow to convince of in debth reading. Computing can help with maths, why hasn't it expanded reading. There is an ocean and they are still surfing the waves.

As a matter of fact, yes, lying down. On my iPad, I can easily switch to two windows. (I don't use a Kindle type dedicated reader.) I could keep the map in one and continue reading in the other. Or I could easily switch between the map window and the text window with a click. This would be similar to dog-earing a map page in a book and returning to it periodically for reference.

Writing research notes by hand on paper is inefficient if the purpose is to eventually generate a paper or report. The reasons should be obvious.

Re student reading: Just as there are different types of books, there are difffferent types of reading. We don't always approach reading in the same way. For example, we don't read a telephone book from page one to find the phone number for Zenith Appliances. We go straight to the Z section and alphabetically scan the listings quickly until we get close. We start reading only when the choices are narrowed to ZE... entries.

Much of "school" reading is similar. Students need to find specific information in a book that may be 600 pages long -- or specific information in a number of different articles. When I did library research via hardcopy books and journals many years ago, I didn't read them from cover to cover or from beginning to end. I scanned them quickly for the specific info I needed. I then xeroxed the sections I needed. In this way, I was able to cover a wide range of sources in quick order. Yes, I did spend more time on a few key sources, reading them more thoroughly.

In digital books, students can search for keywords. This is digital literacy -- for the 21st century. If they need additional background info, they can backtrack on the hits or flash forward. If a question is about a specific character in a novel, students can search for passages that refer to her and gather a quick profile. If a question is about a specific incident, students can find it in a heartbeat. If it's about a specific symbol or trope, again, a search would instantly highlight all instances.

In fact, online, students can easily switch to a search engine such as Google and hunt for hits on the bit of info in a wide range of additional sources.

Yes, this is skimming, but it's also working smart and not hard. Efficiency actually allows for "deeper" reading by bypassing the fatigue that results from spending precious time manually searching for bits of information in a hardcopy book or article.

Please, think of other people who do not have this luxury of the West or rich countries. Some people do not even have the necessary needs of life, but they keep seeking good education and knowledge. They DO NOT have internet or fancy smart phones. We do not deny the importance of digital technologies. What we want is to acknowledge all sources of information, modern or high tech and traditional, giving people a chance to opt. The most important thing is the "content" not just the "form" of communication/knowledge.

Yes I remember those days and I lovevlibraries..rarely go now we don't need to. You seem to imply I go to manual journals..not at all search all the time, and save and/or print.

But the skimming may be smart learning as you call but is skimming... You are surfing alot of info, filtering etc. But there are some journal articles, some books you need to read completely. I wholly support your arguments for how fast it is and flexible.

It's great to get students moving around a text..

So they spend less time searching but they still need to read not skim. By this argument they would all be reading more....

.Not sure they are...as in university many courses and BB all journal articles and books all online minimising their search time further. You can track what student read on BB. It's fascinating as many not reading alot at all. You can track the students engagement with BB...not alot

And actually , reading on article, undertaking deep reading is still essential, but is a skill lacking, as the clickbait environment has impacted learning...

Check out the silicon millionaires who are addressing their children's education as they are addicted to phones, and now fully appreciate how learning is being impacted

The UK government is also devising policy to ensure proper learning and control of phones as students using it to play games, Instagram and not used to access learning material, or do research

Keep saying an ocean of knowledge and just scratching the service

In your next class ask them to write down their favourite novel, poet, movie, movie director??

I don't teach literature but if I did, the first thing is that students read the whole book

El-Sayed El-Aswad: "The most important thing is the 'content' not just the 'form' of communication/knowledge."

That's precisely my point. Form (medium) impacts content (message). In book form, content won't get to people below the poverty line. They can't afford books, and they don't have access to books. Smartphones are relatively inexpensive alternatives to books. With this one simple tool, they can access an almost infinite number of digital books as well as other sources of information.

A hardcopy book is like fish. You can feed the poor for a day. But a smartphone is like teaching them how to fish. They'll be able to access an infinite number of digital books for a lifetime.

I agree with you Antonio Dias de Figueiredo, Books are going to live alongside technology.

Books remain paper books, the term e-books must be changed to electronic information.

Ahmed Saeed Mohmed, I agree. Books that aren't meant to be read like a novel, from cover to cover, should be referred to as "electronic information." Other possibilities are "electronic document," "digital information," and "nonlinear electronic document." Possible acronyms for these are ED or EDOC, DIN, and NED.

"DIN" denotes unpleasant noise, so it might not work. But I like it for its connotation. Haha.

As Beverly Dawn Metcalfe and others contend, however, we should probably continue to use "ebook" for works that are meant to be read digitally from beginning to end, such as novels.

Also, as Metcalfe, Antonio Dias de Figueiredo, and others say, hardcopy books of all types will continue to flourish as artifacts and antiques or as a medium with nostalgic values that can't be replicated in digital form. I'm thinking here of vinyl records that some audiophiles continue to collect and play.

I think most of us who grew up in the 20th century continue to keep hardcopy books that have special meaning for us. But I no longer maintain a hardcopy library in my home. It was gathering dust and mold. Instead, I have a few small shelves of treasured books, both fiction and nonfiction, paperback and hardcopy. The rest have been donated to the local libraries.

I am and always have been a prolific reader of hardcopy novels in popular genres, especially mystery and adventure. There are a number of authors that I follow regularly, and I'm always on the lookout for their books. But I buy them, hardback or paperback, at big box stores and other outlets at the lowest prices. And after I'm done, I donate them to the local thrift shops.

Dear Beverly, In my view, everyone should be offered the means to learn how to enjoy and take advantage of digital reading without having to learn alone by trial and error, as is the case today. Unfortunately, there is very little research on the topic. Today, digital reading is very powerful, but requires mastering a complex environment that integrates reading, annotation, reproduction, and access to dictionaries, thesaurus, encyclopedias, books, and... other people. It is not fair for all citizens to have to learn on their own how to master such a powerful environment. As to the traditional reading of paper books, it is an entirely different pleasure! It calls for slow enjoyment, meditation, touch, smell, and wandering in bookstores and second-hand markets, as you describe. Fortunately, there is plenty of room for both digital and paper in this wonderful world we live in!

Interesting James

We have a sort out too but still have hard library which many include bios, key writers and poets me and husband love.

I am buying more academic books on Kindle

And yes we recycle to charity shop

I agree with you about digital reading skills Antonio..as my husband a chemical engineer and technical editor and he has 3-4 screens all at once and he is self_taught, and familiar how complex this is.

We need a digital deep reading movement...am not sure unis guide this. There are extensive essay writing classes, library tours/workshops....

We give handouts, put loads of stuff in BB or Moodle and as I said we can track engagement with these learning sites and while some usage not all students are using material. Plagiarism of course risen everywhere, and purchase of essays online.

I had one recently where student referenced many sources to Midland University in Zimbabwe. That essay clearly familiar with Turnitin....and shows how learning can be avoided. We are witnessing an entitlement regime where students pay they expect degree. I only teach Masters by way mainly to overseas students.

I am not worried how they attain info, but they need to create a learning space they can manage..I just want them to read..

But my arty brain where I have a system of piles related to research papers working on...this comforts me..I can digital read.

But if doing a paper will always print....and I like to see my piles😊

Just watching about Oxford Bodleian Library formed 1602, and they made commitment to have copies of all books published in UK...they faced huge challenges with space, and receive on average 1000 books a day.

The UK also has the British library formed in 1963 which aims to be the custodian of knowledge and information

So pleased we have a commitment to our heritage

Antonio

I totally agree with you... but you cannot access these often unless you are at university, or wealthy. These services are also limited in Universities..for example Sudan.

So books are precious

There also seems to be growing divide between sciences and social sciences and humanities, and funding and support in Universities. At Manchester the decision was to move ahead on platform of physics, science and languages, history, sociology not given greatest support.