There has been media frenzy of recent regarding the release of the first holographic smart phone in Beijing from Takee Technology, (CCTV News, 18/07/2014). The process involves bonding silicon with miniaturized light emitting diodes (LED’s) to create hologram projector chips, created by Ostendo that can be fitted into mobile devices, (estimated to cost around $30). The pixel density will equate to around 500 dpi (dots per inch), whilst the dpi of an iPhone5 is around 3,000 dpi, (Nguyen, 2014).
Money has been invested by figures such as Peter Thiel, (co-founder of PayPal) and American government agencies, having invested $38 million in product development, (Sandoral, 2010).
Such technology could be introduced into the publishing industry in the near future. With a third of Britons now using e-readers, the publishing industry is becoming ever more advanced and interactive, (Campbell, 2012). Products such as the Kindle Fire have combined the experience of reading with the capabilities of a computer, all on a tablet. However, with so many interactive platforms available now, including the Apple iPad, it is becoming increasingly difficult to engage children in reading.
The introduction of holographic images could allow publishers to transform the reading experience, particularly in the case of educational publishing. Science books could contain holographic images of e.g. DNA structures, creating a more interactive 3D experience for readers, or even illustrated children’s books, through the use of a tablet. The time to encourage young readers has never been more crucial. The results of a recent survey, published in the Daily Mail (September, 2014) revealed that by 2025, 1.5 million children will turn eleven ‘without being able to read well’. Therefore, publishers require new tactics to secure the next generation of readers. But is 3D technology on e-readers the way to do this? Of 93 parents surveyed by Digitalbookworld.com in 2012, 90% preferred their children reading print books to e-books, (Greenfield, 2012).
Can the experience of a highly detailed pop-up book ever be transformed onto an e-reader? Even with holographic technology, children’s reading requires something tangible. The National Literary Trust, found in 2013 that the premature introduction of e-readers in children’s learning can actually discourage children from reading. Those reading on screens only were three times less likely to enjoy reading, and one third less likely to have a favourite book. I am not saying that the introduction of holographic technology is intrinsically bad. Such breakthroughs are exciting and important, but inevitably companies will seek to introduce the technology into e-readers and alter the reading process forever. However, stories have become an escape from the modern world and to infiltrate that peace would contradict what books have come to stand for. Heath wrote ‘Technology has penetrated almost every sphere of contemporary life’, (Heath, 2000). The sanctity of the written word deserves protection from humanities desperate attempts to commercialise and modernise all aspects of our world, because that is what literature is, an escape to another world.
487 words.
Bibliography:
Anon, (2014), CCTV News, (Online), Holographic Smart phone Released in Beijing, available from:
<http://english.cntv.cn/2014/07/18/VIDE1405676399053814.shtml> [Accessed 06/10/14]
Press Associate, (2014), The Daily Mail, (Online), 1.5 Million Children Won’t Read Well, available from:
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Greenfield, Jeremy, (2012), Digital Book World, (Online), Available from:
<http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2012/parents-and-children-prefer-reading-print-books-together-rather-than-e-books-study-finds/ > [Accessed 08/10/2014
Anon, (2013), The National literacy Trust, (Online), Children’s On-Screen Reading Overtakes Reading in Print, available from:
<http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/media/5371_children_s_on-screen_reading_overtakes_reading_in_print > [Accessed 01/10/2014]
Sandoval, Lori, (2014), Tech Times, (Online), New Tech may make Smart Phones Project 3D Holograms by Christmas 2015, available from:
<http://www.techtimes.com/articles/8192/20140610/new-technology-may-make-smartphones-project-3d-hologram-by-christmas-2015.htm> [Accessed 30/09/14]
Tuan, Nguyen, (2014), The Washington Post, (Online) Available from:
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/06/16/forget-touchscreens-3d-holographic-displays-are-coming> [Accessed 30/09/14]