Paper Library
With the information super highway at our finger tips, why do many people still prefer picking up a hard copy of a book, grabbing a newspaper for their commute or writing a letter? It’s because of the connection that words on paper creates.
We can use more of our senses to experience it, we can touch something tangible; feel the quality of the paper, hear the flick of the pages, and the smell of freshly printed paper, ink or the leather that binds a fine journal.
Temple University in Philadelphia carried out a study using fMRI scans to determine the differences in the impact that digital and print have on the human brain. Guess what, paper was found to activate the part of the brain most associated with desire and valuation.
This doesn’t mean that everyone is going to suddenly drop their mobile devices in unison and switch back to paper-based content (even though they should). What it does mean is that we can’t ignore the emotional impact that paper has on us. It's good for the soul and we all need more of that.
