It’s a real question of who you believe this morning is a game of the glass if half full or half empty, depending on who you speak to.
Mashable points to a video of Representative Jesse Jackson’s speech on the floor of the US House Of Representatives this week when he blamed the iPad for job losses in retail, publishers and printing industries, as well as pointing to the fact that the device (which he admits to owning) was made in China:
Speaking on the House floor on April 15, Jackson — an admitted iPad owner — says the device is “probably responsible for eliminating thousands of American jobs.”
He continued: “Now Borders is closing stores because why do you need to go to Borders anymore? Why do you need to go to Barnes & Noble? Just download your book, download your newspaper, download your magazine.” Jackson goes on to say that the iPad is also replacing textbooks in colleges and that the device will cause people who work in publishing, libraries and bookstores to lose their jobs.
On the other hand, Fins Technology points to the more positive message coming from publishers themselves about the new digital age and the iPad:
To capitalize on this trend and re-ignite growth, publishers are expanding their e-book operations. They’re hiring engineers, app and Web designers, statisticians, experts in analytics, metadata managers, information architects and software and app developers, among others. They’re also contracting with a whole new set of start-ups: small companies that specialize in transforming an old-fashioned paper product into a jazzed-up digital experience.
News
2 Comments
No question that the e-reader/e-books will cost jobs (many skilled/unskilled labor) and there is no question that Publishers (whatever that means now) will increase jobs in some areas. The problem is that these new jobs require specialized education and the loss will be felt in the skilled/unskilled area.
MY 2nd concern is with selection and the loss of backlist/orphan books. For example, Apple, Google and others are designing their devices for video not necessarily books.
Still a problem with rendering poetry properly and page numbering.
Finally, numbers tell the story of what the future may hold:
(number are app. and don’t include public domain books)
Apple- around 150,000-250,000
Google- minus public domain- 300,000-500,00 books
Amazon- minus public domain- 750,000 books
Sounds like a lot but visit any of the sites and look at subsections and what is missing and then look at offerings.
I would argue that combining e-readers with video playing devices is not the way to go because each requires different lighting/hardware. Maybe the time has come to separate the two. Just my thoughts and I know i am in a minority.
Here is an opposing view on the headlong rush into the brave new world of e-readers. People will differ but if we are to achieve the next revolution in literature then we need to slow down and think not just about the now but the future:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/46793-books-without-batteries-the-negative-impacts-of-technology.html