The inevitable decline of the print industry over the last ten years doesn’t mean people are reading less—in fact they’re reading more. Those early adopters willing to utilize new generations of digital reading devices enjoy content in smaller packaging, facilitating convenience and portability in exchange for the tactile physical media experience.

But in last few years, media in general has transformed, combined and evolved, blurring the lines between video, print and audio. For instance, in magazines, advertisers placed thin video pages to entice consumers to view trailers of television pilots—online games have long been cross-media interactive, featuring games that allow the user to not only assume the role of a detective, for instance, but also receive clues via phone to solve mysteries. Re-imagining media with the goal of complete immersion continues, but one medium has been slower to change: the printed word—more specifically, the book.

Consumers who have decided to pass up the e-reader experience books just as people hundreds of years ago did—a tradition of bound paper, illustration and font. Then, enter the audio book, (the American Foundation for the Blind developed the first talking books in 1932) and the ability to hear a character’s voice, the ability to read without reading—the next revolution in the book experience was born.

But since the 1930’s, books, in terms of user experience, haven’t really changed. So is there an unmet need for something more? Do people want to be more immersed—or is the printed word enough to satisfy most imaginations?

Vook certainly thinks so. Vook blends a book, video and social technologies in an attempt to deliver a single, immersive story. Readers—or vookers, rather, can learn more about the historical context of Sherlock Holmes via video, for instance—while reading the book. And this doesn’t just apply to fiction—cooking and fitness books come with video tutorials, not to mention users can discuss all of this via Twitter, Facebook and the like.

Vook may be one attempt at innovation in the print media space, but one thing is for certain, the mash-up and re-imagination of all content will continue to evolve. We believe the future of these technologies lies in generational, social, and psychographic/technographic results. More analysis to come!

In the mean time; how do you see the future of media?

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