OUP?s announcement on considering the possibility of publishing the 3rd edition of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) exclusively online has caused quite a stir. But the progression to electronic media seems only natural. Who knows what the publishing world will look like in 10 years, given that the OED will not be ready to be published for at least another decade. And this phenomenon isn?t limited to books and newspapers. As the start of a new academic year in the US draws closer, USA Today reports that schools are embracing e-textbooks. But can online content fully replace the hardcover bound books? Well, the answer depends on geography and which side of 40 you?re on.
Frivolities aside, this debate has been raging for many years now but changes in operational models are imminent. The argument that carries most weight in favour of going digital is the issue of cost. Producing and distributing digital content is less expensive than printing it. A newspaper in India is priced between Rs 3 and Rs 5 but costs many times more to publish. E-papers also save the cost of distribution and allow readers to flip pages like a real newspaper. Accessibility and relevance also need to be factored in. Not only is it more convenient to google something?requires just a click rather than having to walk to the bookshelf and back (not such a bad idea, given the obesity stats)?it is also faster. Plus, online data is more frequently updated than printed content?the 2nd edition of the OED was published in 1989! And it is more environment-friendly. No more wastage of paper, water and ink.
But is that really true? A study by Elsevier found that if a user was going to spend more than 40 minutes online (35 tonne/CO2), it was better for them to print the article (30 tonne/CO2). Add to this the cost of maintaining large data storing facilities that require large amounts of energy to keep them at operable temperatures and, voila, the environment-friendly tag needs readjustment. But most importantly, to be able to access electronic content, one needs to be connected to the Internet. And taking into account that only 7% of the Indian population has access to the Internet is a telling statistic of which side of the fence we?re on in the print vs digital debate. Book stores are still selling 20 hard copies of the OED for every CD. But after the HRD minister?s new affordable computer hits the markets, it is anyone?s guess how long that statistic will hold true.
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