Evolution is a process that can neither be stopped nor restrained. We’ve witnessed this in nature, media, and even thought. Technology is no different. It has undergone evolution from the moment of its conception to the ever-changing landscape of digitization today.

Before the existence of the Gutenberg printing press in the mid-1400s, access to written materials such as scrolls, historical recordings, or books in order to obtain knowledge was considered a luxury for thousands of years. Books were copied by hand in a laborious process before they were destroyed as an aftermath of wars, natural catastrophes, or neglect.

In the 21st century, we are experiencing another such evolution, thanks to digital technology. Like the printing press did, technological blessings like the internet, smartboards, tablets and e-readers are once more reshaping our reading and learning habits entirely.

What does this evolution mean for us?

It means everything. It has changed the way we consume written works. It has changed the way publishers operate. And it has especially changed the way we learn.

Where once we had to browse through dustry library shelves to look for a single piece of information, we can now access thousands of resources with the click of a button through the magical portals that we refer to as “search engines”. 

There’s no denying that libraries and physical bookstores can provide us with the feeling of comfort that can be found no place else (and the smell of books is something to be treasured), but using a search engine to look for specific information is just much more practical and time-saving in a world where everything is moving at warp speed. 

Although many traditionalists are steadfast in their opinion that digitization brings nothing but harm to the industry, it has proven to be the opposite in most cases. Libraries that have embraced advances in technology are now able to provide booking services where customers can simply browse through the library’s selection online and reserve the book that they want before picking it up in person. Not to go on and on about saving time, but yes, this again saves time. 

What’s more amazing is that there are some libraries today that provide members with opportunities to borrow ebooks and gain online access to their database. The closest and best example is the Libby app. Members can now borrow and enjoy ebooks and audiobooks from their local libraries via the app. All you have to do is download the app and sign in with your library card details (or register for an account through the respective libraries’ websites) and voila! You’re all set to borrow all the books that your reader’s heart desires.

How does this evolution affect classroom activities?

Advancing technology in education has eliminated many aspects of traditional classroom learning. Smartboards, that are touted for their practicality, continue to replace blackboards and whiteboards across classrooms. And with global lockdown orders and widespread homeworking being carried out, more and more digital and online tools are being utilized. As a result, many prestigious universities around the world are now offering partial and full online undergraduate and Master's degrees programs online.

Speaking from the perspective of a student who’s been through the traditional methods of learning using whiteboards and notebooks to digital learning tools on smart devices, there’s no doubt that the latter is more convenient for a student. We’re basically carrying hundreds of books with efficient note-taking applications all in one device. And with more devices flooding the market, there are a large number of affordable ones that can provide us with the tools we need for cohesive and comprehensive online learning.

Data from a landmark K-12 study done by Schoology showed that the respondents (over 16,000 teachers and administrators across the United States) agree that digital learning leaves a positive impact for both students and teachers. While most are of the opinion that digital learning is simply utilizing digital tools in the classroom, it’s actually much more than that. EdTech editor Lauren Davis states that the purpose of digital learning is to enhance the experience, not just continuing it via a digital means.

Digitization has also changed the way textbooks are made. The kind of textbooks that millennials are familiar with, for example, might be a little or entirely different from what Gen Z kids are familiar with. Textbooks that are used in class today are chock-full of virtual and audible materials that not only assist them in following the lecture, but enhances their learning experience too. 

Embracing digitization

Many aspects of our lives have been impacted by the swift emergence of digital technology. Even our photo-taking habits have shifted as a result of the proliferation of smartphones and high-capacity mobile storage devices. With the advent of online music streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Joox, much-loved desktop softwares like Winamp have been supplanted.

A similar shift has taken place in our reading habits in general. There is no longer a need for us to own a physical book to have access to content. There is no shortage of methods for reading books, journal articles, and other types of published materials. There’s also a plethora of devices that allow us to engage with material, ranging from eye-catching e-book readers to state of the art tablets and smartphones.

There is no reason for us to keep seeing digitization as an enemy. In a BBC article, Nubart Audioguides CEO Dr Rosa Sala Rose stated that some book stores still see digital as “the big monster that’s going to eat them, and prefer to put their head in the sand”.

That is an entirely wrong way to look at it. It is of course understandable to be skeptical of it at first, but recent trends have shown that digital is actually reviving a whole community of book lovers. Digital technology and the rapid rise of digital reading culture has opened so many doors for authors and publishers to be more creative in developing books.

Marginalized authors, for instance, who previously may not have the resources or opportunities to publish their written work, can opt to use Kindle Create, a free interior formatting tool that allows writers to format their work and publish it on Amazon’s Kindle.

So digitization hasn’t killed the book. On the contrary; it has helped evolve the world of books beyond the confines of the physical.