The power of the printed word

By Caleb Mutua

Unlike a few years ago when people would crowd in public libraries to read or search for information, modern technology, specifically the internet, has made it easier for people to access a lot of information online. The thought that internet will soon replace the book, however, greatly underrates the power of the printed word considering the many risks that come with the World Wide Web.

First, most of the information available in the internet has been copied from books. Many writers first publish books on their work and later avail their work on the internet and in most cases the internet version is always simplified. For example, a scientist will write a detailed theory for publication and later provide a simplified and often summarized abstract on the internet.

Second, the ability of the internet to store information for a long time is in question. Where exactly does the internet store its information? What if we wake up one day and all the scholarly journals and e-books are gone? A printed book lasts for a long period of time compared to online publications.

Third, information terrorism is on the rise. Hackers access personal and institutional archives and with a click of a button, they add or remove huge amounts of information on the internet. This puts the credibility of the information in the internet to question unlike books which we can hardly add or erase its content.

Another reason is that in order to access the information in the internet, one need a computer and access to the internet. This is a major challenge to many people who can barely afford a meal a day, especially in the Third World. Books are relatively cheaper and one book can be shared by many people, therefore serving a wider audience compared to the internet.

We cannot dispute the fact that many people are increasingly accessing the internet for information. However, the printed word is here to stay and technology should in fact be utilized to access the book.

First published on October 2011.