Though it may still be considered a residual medium today, it’s definitely possible that hard copy books will become a legacy medium or even an obsolete medium in the future. Somewhat of a legacy medium already, it is easy to see how eBooks might replace and already do replace the physical books and textbooks that are very prominent in every college student’s life.
In fact, this replacement often starts even earlier than college. Many high schools in today’s day and age are making a shift towards online textbooks and assignments as early as freshman year, in order to continue with the idea of innovative “21st century learning” or something along those lines.
For me personally, it was very interesting to read the article on “The End of Legacy Media.” The fact that it was written in 1998, the year I was born, meant that the author of the article predicted that hard copy books would become an obsolete medium by the time I was 10 years old (2008).
However, I would say that this is far from the case, even now in 2016. While perhaps the use of books is inherited from older generations, I know that I, as an individual, prefer physical copies of textbooks to online versions of them. Through my eyes, books are definitely still a very present part of my day to day life.
Part of my reasoning is dependent on how well I can learn the information. While online textbooks have their specific benefits, and I definitely can use them with ease, the hard copies of my textbooks always seem to help me retain information more easily. I think it has something to do with the format of them, which allows for me to focus on the root of what I’m learning because of the very visual aspect that exists in a physical page of reading.
Additionally, when I am just reading for fun, I almost always prefer flipping through real pages. This may sound strange, but because I have a deep love for reading (I have since I was little kid), I appreciate the tangible feeling of turning a page and also the scent that fills the air every time I crack open a book. Since those sensory feelings are linked to one of my favorite pastimes, I feel like something is missing every time I read an eBook.
Overall, though I can’t predict what will happen in the future, I do know that hard copy books will always be something that I will prefer (at least for now). If they do become an obsolete medium, I know I will look back on them with a smile on my face and a warmth in my heart just because of the memories and experiences that they bring me back to.
You’re not alone! A lot of readers feel that hardcopy texts are easier to read “deeply” than e-texts—and some studies seem to back them up. Maybe what we’re seeing is a split between casual daily reading and engaged reading—which for many people is (still) easier with texts. Page-turning is a great example of a property of an old medium that we might only think about once a different alternative arrives. Think also about the way in which a book’s weight and appearance changes as you make your way through. Various e-readers try to capture this sense of placing yourself in a text, but it’s hard.