Stop the Press!
August 3, 2011
Soon you can read underwater!
There’s a new contender in town: waterproof books.
Not sure if it’s just me, but I’ve been coming across the topic of waterproof books for some time now, and have admittedly always been perplexed by this concept. Where is the demand for such a thing? With all of the commotion surrounding ebooks, the demise of Borders, and the be-all-end-all question of “What is NEXT for book publishing?” you don’t exactly expect to see a headline in the mix regarding the anticipation of what they are calling “the next big thing.” The technology here is basically a wax sealant that encases the book to prevent tearing of pages and water damage.
Believe it or not, this is positioning itself as a distinct possibility. It forces one to wonder, if only for a moment, what the hell is going on. Perhaps it is an attempt to stir up some controversy and create some competition for the ebook, at a time when the book is the ultimate media darling. It just seems so, I don’t know, early ’90s.
There is some discrepancy over who will be at the forefront of this revolution. In addition to Melcher Media’s “DuraBooks,” there is word that an ebook original by Alan Cork, A Greater Bad, will be the first and will be released next year. Supposedly, the “technology” has already been used in Australian banks to protect paper money as well as in scuba diver-specific editions of certain titles.
It is undecided which title will be our first waterproof publication. Because we know you are waiting with bated breath, we will keep you posted on the latest developments surrounding this sensation.
