The electronic book is a digitally presented format of any conventional printed book that can be read through a personal computer or through a hardware device called a book reader. The beginning of such an innovative idea dates back to 1971 when the pioneer Michael Hart, in the US, decided to create the storage, retrieval and scanning of texts available in libraries through computers. This resulted in the origin of the first electronic book, a copy of the “Declaration of Independence” which later became “Project Gutenberg”. Today it contains more than 20,000 free texts and more than 100,000 books.
More than 3,000,000 books are downloaded every month. Ultimately this reached gigantic proportions with ebooks flooding the web due to their easy storage on hard drive or disk. The production of electronic books is usually carried out by scanning documents or by using robotic book scanners.
Initially, the ebooks were limited to specialty topics that were documents, technical manuals or articles on manufacturing techniques with the latest generation hardware. Such e-books did not create much of an impact in the market as there was no consensus on packaging, selling or reading. Several diverse specifications proliferated, supported by leading software companies or by independent programmers, catering to readers following multiple formats, resulting in further fragmentation of the market. At this stage, the electronic book was not a main element.
This, however, did not stop ebook from expanding its domain. It appeared in underground markets where e-book publishers distributed those books that were not readily available on the market. Similarly, authors whose books did not find publishers began offering their books online so that viewers would be exposed to the literature. Even unauthorized and unofficial catalogs were available on various websites. And so e-books began to circulate online. Romance novels were the first successful e-books as they catered to a large clientele who bought them online and enjoyed reading them in private.
These incidents caught the attention of major publishers. Around mid-June 2001, acclaimed publishers began to delve into this medium and tried to cash in on e-book formats. This prompted publishers to establish online stores and partnerships with e-reader manufacturers. Today, electronic hardware manufacturers are also working together with e-book readers to capitalize on the online e-book market.
This uptick in activity by big name publishers, electronics companies and independent operators resulted in the development of new sales models. Simultaneously, a simpler and more homogeneous format with better reading hardware was created to achieve global distribution of e-books. This has unleashed a series of new editorials. Today, electronics manufacturers are courting e-book readers through new designs, while software engineers are developing new reading applications for portable electronics ranging from handheld computers, smartphones, and game consoles. .
Readers of the 20th century, unaware of the concept of the ebook, are gradually being exposed to this electronic phenomenon. Travelers read e-books on laptops, handhelds, or cell phones. Such is the fashion for e-books in Japan that mobile phone novels have evolved where books can be downloaded and read on the mobile screen. Sales that were insignificant a few years ago have now exceeded 10 billion yen annually (The Economist). Today, consumers can easily access the books of their choice, from best sellers to new authors or any type that suits their reading pattern.
E-book reading is advantageous as it is a space-saving book storage device. A CD/DVD can hold approximately 500 ebooks and they never run out, which is common for conventional books. For researchers, these digitized versions are ideal, as they display an excellent variety of formats that allow for quick cross-references. Readers can fine-tune their reading convenience by adjusting fonts and text sizes and use the backlit feature that allows for proper visibility in low-light conditions. Unlike traditional books and paperbacks, eBooks don’t need to be portable, can be reproduced cheaply, and are generally inexpensive, since they don’t consume paper, ink, and other resources used in conventional printing.
The basic disadvantage of the electronic book is that it requires electronic devices for viewing. The software may not be readily available or free of charge or compatible with your existing computing setup. Sudden hard drive failure or power outage causes annoying interruptions. E-book storage media are fragile, devices are expensive, and replacement charges can be prohibitive. Finally, and particularly for some publishers, piracy is a perennial danger.