This document discusses how technology will impact the future of knowledge sharing and books. It provides an overview of NITDA's role in developing Nigeria's IT sector through initiatives like rural information centers, a virtual library, and standards development. The author argues that critical 21st century factors like the internet, new media, mobility, and market forces will drive publishing to mobile platforms and make printed books obsolete. To prepare, the education system must overhaul curricula and developing economies must embrace these imminent technological changes.

1. Technology and the Future of the Book: A NITDA Perspective A Paper Presented by Inye Kemabonta, Director Standards and Regulation NITDA May11, 2011 at the Nigeria International Book Fair

2. Content Introduction NITDA and its mandate Critical Factors of the 21st Century and how they will affect technology and the book NITDA initiatives on knowledge society

3. Introduction For the purpose of this presentation, “the book” is defined not just in the narrow sense of the printed word, wherever it may be, but also in the very broad sense of a knowledge society Both concepts are actually not different in essence but only in form Technology is the catalyst for the change Therefore what might be the effect of technology on “the book”? “The species which have survived are those which adapted to change”!

4. NITDA Represents Nigeria’s most ambitious step to develop its Information Technology sector Legal framework Intervention Fund and incentives Standardization E-Government Framework

5. Critical Factors of the 21st Century The Internet Its ubiquity Nigeria has 90 million active mobile subscribers and 26% of Africa’s Internet presence New media

6. 21st Century Factors Human nature Mobility Miniaturization Response to change

7. 21st Century Factors Cont’d Market Forces Efficiency Competition New markets

8. NITDA initiatives Rural Information Technology Centers ( RITC) Universal Access Project Target is 774 LGAs Just over 140 at the moment Function as e-learning centers Part of the e-gov infrastructure

9. NITDA initiatives Cont’d Virtual Library Only a pilot so far at NITDA ( NITDA Information Resource Center) 14 million books and periodicals, including audio books Collaborators required from Universities, International Agencies and Regulatory bodies in education

10. NITDA initiatives Cont’d IT Standards Establishment of the National Technical Committee on IT Standards Recertification requirements for Local OEMs Value added services “Nigerian” Content Policy on IT Foreign OEMs to have Nigerian content

11. Implications Cont’d Embark on an overhaul or comprehensive review of the curriculum I do not speak here of the IT curriculum as that would be parochial and shortsighted.

12. Conclusion The days of the printed word are indeed numbered; “the book” as we know it today is dying! Or whittling down to insignificance. That is what this conference suggests to me Hardcopy books will find their way to museums and archives, not libraries, in the future! Computing as we know it today is becoming obsolete; desktops and even laptops will become far less fashionable just like main frame computers Knowledge will however grow exponentially. That has already happened. That is what the Internet represents Handheld devices will become man’s best companion and publishing is migrating to that platform. It has to do so (almost completely) to remain relevant What to do? Developing economies must brace up for the imminent change Instructions in education, publishing and technology have to redefine their roles in line with current realities

13. THANK YOU kabonta@nitda.gov.ng