Reading habits are a-changin’ and we’ve got some ideas to help the industry adapt.
Using recent research on how Canadians are consuming books, and some key ideas from Tech Forum 2015, we suggest a blueprint for adapting to today’s bookish behaviour.
Are Canadians still reading?
At this year’s Tech Forum, Kevin Ashton presented on new technology and “How to Survive the Ebookalypse.” He began by saying, “We live in an age of paranoia about reading and publishing, but that’s actually not a new thing.” Undeniably, the industry is in state of transition and print sales are down. But much like the invention of the paperback format, technology will not destroy reading. Instead, Ashton argues, “Technology is feeding literacy and literacy is causing a need for new technology.”
Tech Forum and ebookcraft wrap-up
Creating is ordinary
It’s the end of reading as we know it (and Kevin Ashton feels fine). The author and coiner of the term “the internet of things” will be coming to Tech Forum on March 12 to tell us how we can all survive the Ebookalypse.
In the meantime, you can read about the very ordinary, human act of creation in this excerpt from his new book, How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery.
Engaging teachers
Information Doesn't Want to Be Free
In his latest book, Information Doesn’t Want to Be Free, Cory Doctorow, science fiction author, activist, journalist, and blogger, identifies three “iron laws of information age creativity, freedom, and business, woven deep into the fabric of the Internet’s design, the functioning of markets, and the global system of regulation and trade agreements.”
He’ll be discussing these laws in detail at Tech Forum this March, but in the meantime, you can read about Doctorow’s Third Law in this excerpt from the book.
How conversion architectures can benefit book publishers
A tale of two cultures
As more and more publishing houses bring in talented digital employees, there’s a likely clash of cultures on the horizon. How can publishers with their rich history work alongside technologists and their history of “disrupting” everything? Designer and developer Derrick Schultz takes a look at the future of the people behind the books.
Bundle up! Your ebooks are getting cold
Registration is Open for Tech Forum and ebookcraft 2015
This week, registration opened for two great conferences in Toronto next March:
- Our annual Tech Forum event
- ebookcraft—now in its second year!—plus new optional workshops the day before ebookcraft
Our shiny new website is packed with more information, so go take a look—and save your spot while the early-bird pricing lasts!
