Video Killed the Radio Star
Video Killed the Radio Star
But just remember, TV never killed off radio or the movies.
When was the last time you saw a record or a record player? In another couple years you'll see CD and DVD formats disappear as other technologies with higher fidelity and more storage take over (Blue Ray anyone?). The point isn't that print will die, there are certainly too many uses for it. However, much like TV undercut the market share for cinema, technology (in many different forms) will undercut print.
Think I'm wrong? Take a look at the USPS' annual reports for the past several years. Less and less mail is being sent. Yes, some of that is because people are writing more e-mails than letters. But at the same time, more retailers are opting to send fliers via e-mail, post catalogs in online shopping systems, and send/receive bills and payments electronically. This trend will only increase; thereby decreasing our opportunities to communicate via print.
Ask any company that reproduced CDs where they are today versus five years ago and they'll tell you mp3 music players (like the iPod) have killed their business. Music is still being made, records mastered, but the delivery media has changed. Books, advertisements, invoices, etc will still be made; how they get to the customer is what's in flux.
Mark H
