Books versus e-Books: The Indian Perspective

By Basavadatta Mitra, Nishant Singh, H.S. Ramya, Adwait Gandhe and Vivek Jha.

Published by The International Journal of the Book

Format	Price
Article: Print	$US10.00
Article: Electronic	$US5.00

The ever-increasing technological advances have had their effects on numerous traditions and books have been no exception. It would be interesting to study these effects in detail and understand the consequences.
At the beginning of human civilization encrypted manuscripts on stones was the first known source of formally recorded information which in the later ages was converted to writing on palm leaves and thus the evolution of books as a medium for storing information underwent transition after transition until the present day technology driven e-books emerged.
An analysis of the growth of books through history not just as a medium for storing information but also as a medium for entertainment and spreading of knowledge, traditions,beliefs,cultures and concepts. The analysis would aim at drawing attention to the reasons for the sustenance of printed paper version of books as the premier mode for spreading knowledge and information till date. We, then, explore the challenges posed by recent technological advances in the digital age. This includes the concerns of the purists regarding the overdependence on technology, effects on sentiments of avid readers and lack of incentive to authors because of piracy. However, increasing popularity of the virtual media like e-books, book readers, etc. compels us to look into the advantages offered like prolonged life, easy accessibility of information and paper conservation.
Finally, we intend to gauge the public perception about these changes in order to move forward in such a way so as to strike a balance between involving technology and maintaining tradition.

Keywords:	Books, e-Books, e-Reader, Tradition, Digital Divide

International Journal of the Book, Volume 7, Issue 2, pp.149-158. Article: Print (Spiral Bound). Article: Electronic (PDF File; 1.197MB).

Dr. Basavadatta Mitra

Assistant Professor, Department of Humanities and Management Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences -Pilani, Goa Campus, Vasco, Goa, India

Dr. Basavadatta Mitra joined BITS-Pilani Goa Centre, in April 2004. Born in 1966, in Kolkata, West Bengal, she has a PhD. in English Literature- Machaivelli’s Influence on Shakespeare’s Tragedies and History Plays, to her credit from Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh; she specializes in Renaissance drama. She has at the same time developed herself further as a resource person for the Teaching of English as Second/Foreign Language (TESOL/TEFL) as well as Teaching of English for Special Purposes (ESP), having acquired a PGCTE from Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL), Hyderabad and is a trained resource person for Business English Certificate Examination (BEC)/International English Language Testing Schemes (IELTS), Cambridge University, through British Council. In the recent days she is working on an interface between Communication Skills and Human Values as part of Personality Development Course introduced by her at Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Goa Campus. In this context she has, recently conducted a Workshop on Developing Effective Personality-Methodology and Materials for teachers of Polytechnic colleges in Goa.In the future, as part of the industry-institute interface she desires to specialize in the methodology of imparting education in human values as Spiritual Quotient, the newest of the quotients much sought after by most organizations in this era of Globalization.

Nishant Singh

Student, IInd Year, B.E. Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering., Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Goa Campus, Vasco -da-Gama, Goa, India

Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Goa Campus, India. Currently pursuing BE(Hons) Electronics and Instrumentation, Second Year. Finds interest in working on different present day issues.

H.S. Ramya

Student, IInd Year, B.E.(Hons)Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Sciences-Pilani, Goa Campus, Vasco-da-Gama, Goa, India

Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Goa Campus, India. Currently pursuing BE(Hons) Mechanical, Second Year. Likes to work on Indian art and literature and involved in promoting Indian culture.

Adwait Gandhe

Student, IInd year, Electricals and Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Goa Campus, India

Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Goa Campus, India. Currently pursuing BE(Hons) Electrical and Electronics, Second Year. Interested in statistical analysis and research in social affairs.

Vivek Jha

Student, IInd year, Computer Science Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Goa Campus, India

Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Goa Campus, India. Currently pursuing BE(Hons) Computer Science, Second Year. Interested in working on case studies on different social issues from an Indian perspective.

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