The Browser and the Book

The book as a form factor has been around for about 2,000 years, since Julius Caesar first decided to fold up a scroll, accordion-style, and mark the pages for later reference. In 1455, Aldus Manutius was the first to publish the portable paperback, and it has remained relatively unchanged since. Why has the book survived so long? What makes the the book continue to be relevant and useful? Books are inherently "browsable." What lessons from the book can be applied to the web browser and other digital technologies? How might digital technologies alter or enhance the way that we interact with books as physical objects? What do the book and browser interfaces have in common? What is the future of the book? Of the browser?