The 12th annual CESPOOL conference attracted hundreds of attendees in Las Vegas this weekend and they were all excited about one product – the book. Dozens of companies showed off their latest models, all of which have in common the new flexible ‘paper’ display and ‘binding’ technology.

The form factors varied, with some vendors showcasing additional features like built-in ‘bookmarks’ and ‘appendices’. A particularly high-end offering from Ericsung boasted ‘pop-up’ technology, which allows viewers to experience wholly-immersive 3d scenery.

Users have warmed to the ‘flipping’ paradigm of reading and the brief moment between the current and next pages no longer seems to be a significant handicap for the devices. Noting readers’ hunger for new features, the new paper displays allow for instant annotation and are compatible with pencils, pens, highlighters, and even markers of all makes and models. The newest displays even offer eraser compatibility and white-out friendly pages.

Of course, consumers can expect to pay a bit more for the extra features – especially for the fact that books are physically present and tangible. They run from $14.99 for the lower-grade paperback lines to premium hardcover offerings at an average price of $24.99. Buyers in Canada can expect to pay several dollars more for the same product thanks to the longstanding envious grudge held against them for socialized medicine.

Whispers abounded on the CESPOOL conference floor about a new book or ‘tablet’ reading device from Apple Whole Food. Rumored to be chiseled from the finest granite, the holy buzz around this new product is palpable.

Riding the wave of new reading products, books are coming as the e-reader phase wanes. All of these products, however, face a challenging trend – the average adult reads less than five words per day on average (including traffic signs), down from several hundred just a decade ago. This dramatic decrease has been blamed by some, particularly the on the widespread availability of audio cassettes and dirty magazines with color pictures. Equipment makers hailing books as the new device to save reading certainly have a lot to prove in the coming months.