Books are one of the oldest forms of communication known to man. They have evolved from early recorded versions, which included engraved stone tablets and scrolls through to manuscripts and eventually, the invention of the printing press in the 15th Century.

Book manufacture in the 21st Century has become increasingly automated, in line with many other manufacturing processes. The latest development is the transfer to a digital format known as
an e-book.
The e-book or electronic book is a digital version of a traditional hard copy book. It can be viewed online, via a CD-ROM or some other form of storage media. It can also be read via a special device called an
e-book reader which is similar in size and shape to a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

The e-book was originally designed for specialist audiences, but this has now expanded to include a wide range of subjects. An e-book is most commonly presented in a PDF format (Portable Document Format) though there are other versions which now include XML.

There are several advantages to e-books which include cheaper production costs, less likely to go out of print, lighter and so easier to hold and easier to cross reference text via a series of hyperlinks.
Disadvantages include the reader having to purchase some form of electronic device in order to do so, less durable than the hard copy version, distribution without author approval and less appealing from an aesthetic point of view.

Whatever the reasons, e-books are becoming increasingly popular and are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Whether they eventually replace conventional hard copy versions remains to be seen.