Tech press: The 5 most exciting ways tech has revolutionized reading

It is nearly a hundred years since the German press Albatross hit the bookselling jackpot by inventing the mass-market paperback. Today even the humble pocket-sized softcover feels ungainly to the e-book aficionado.

Size counts for the tech-savvy reader. The average e-reader holds about 1500 books but weighs considerably less than a tattered copy of Anna Karenina. With wifi, 3G downloads, long battery life and apps for mobile reading, there has never been a better time to be a book lover.

1. We’re buying and reading more

More people are buying and reading e-books. The Association of American Publishers noted that e-book sales rose by 117% between 2010 and 2011. Pew Research claims that 21% of American adults read an e-book in 2011. Surveys indicate that people who own e-readers read and own more books than those who stick strictly to paper and ink.

2. Self publishing has boomed

Self-publishing was always an option for aspiring authors but e-book technology has turned it into a major industry. Free publishing utilities like Smashwords or Amazon’s Digital Text Platform allow authors to format and upload their own work. Once the book is live, authors can manage their own promotion and revenue. This model has proven successful for authors like Amanda Hocking.

3. Short stories are making a comeback

In the analogue era the market for short stories was limited. This has changed. Apps now provide access to hundreds of miniature tales on mobile screens. Many stories are free to download. Their brevity makes them ideal for reading on the move.

4. Books are becoming multimedia

Digital technology allows publishers to include extras with e-books similar to bonus material on a BluRay disc. George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones has been released as an enhanced e-book. It features interactive maps, a hyperlinked character glossary and audio clips. Paperbacks cannot replicate these features.