Future of Reading
Reading is a major cultural achievement. The manipulation of written symbols has enabled humans to create and maintain a world of knowledge on paper. However, with the proliferation of digital media, long established reading habits and practices, and the place of reading and the book in society, are coming under mounting pressure. Books are losing their former centrality in the media mix, and their cultural and economic impact on individuals and society changes. Reading has long symbolised everyone’s right
There are many modes and purposes of reading, as well as different media for engaging with text. In today’s hybrid reading environment, paper and digital technologies each offer different advantages for different purposes. The medium we use, the length and complexity of the text and the depth with which we read can all influence cognitive outcomes. The goals of Institute for the Future of Reading are: