Mimeo Lounge

Is Print Dead?

Posted on October 3, 2007 at 1:08pm, written by Charlie Corr, VP Corporate Strategy

In response to this question, Frank Romano a guru in the field remarked that “print isn’t dead it just looks dead because it doesn’t move.” While the direct question was not addressed at the Chief Learning Officer Fall Symposium held this week in Tucson, Arizona it was implied. There was a great deal of focus on “new learning” styles, “generational” changes and the meaning of Web 2.0 as it related to leaning.

Despite the impact of “new media” most learning occurs from printed documents. These documents include books, newspapers, magazines, journals, manuals, etc. The printed page is still responsible for the transmission of most knowledge. Schools, from pre-school to graduate school, still rely predominantly on the printed word.  The reasons are not just tied to “preference” and I don’t see any compelling evidence that they differ that much between generations (as evidence I would put forward Harry Potter).

Reading from the printed page is 20 to 30% faster than reading from a screen. Printed work is more easily manipulated be it in at the beach or on your desk. For many it is easier to navigate. Just as I remember where that piece of paper in a pile on my desk I remember where a passage is in a book. Paper is low cost, has no backward compatibility issues and when done well, the printed word aids comprehension and recall.

While social media and Web 2.0 provide other methods to facilitate learning the printed page remains not only a viable option but in many cases a preferred one, even if it doesn’t move.

Tags: chief learning officer, clo fall symposium, frank romano, social media, web 2.0