Open Question: How Can Ebooks Improve the Reading Experience?

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Permalink Reply by Joe Wikert on August 11, 2008 at 5:20pm

I think one of the keys to this will be going from the two-dimensional world of print to the three-dimensional one of e-content. The ability to drill down deeper into certain topics in an e-book via links and other techniques is where e- can begin to set itself apart from print. I love it that I can quickly look up unfamiliar words in the built-in dictionary on my Kindle but I thirst for more. I want a lot more depth on certain things and not so much on others. A well-designed e-book ought to enable this sort of accessibility.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Savikas on August 11, 2008 at 10:32pm

Totally agree with you, Joe. While it definitely depends on the type of content, reading books digitally really cries out for more data, more entry points, and more exit points. For example, for non-fiction, a good start would be a detailed list of references with hyperlinks; for fiction the equivalent of a "director's cut" maybe. The trick is getting the content creators (both authors and publishers) to get out of a print-then-digital mindset.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Wikert on August 11, 2008 at 11:09pm

You've hit the nail on the head, Andrew. We're so used to doing things the print way I think it's going to be tricky getting everyone to adopt the new mind-set that's required to truly leverage the e-platforms.

I can't help but think the authoring tool itself is going to be a critical component. Microsoft Word is a great tool for a two-dimensional book but does the industry need a richer, more sophisticated one for the layered content model?

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Permalink Reply by Andrew Savikas on August 12, 2008 at 10:17am

I agree that the creative tools are important, though I worry there's too much faith put in waiting for the perfect authoring environment. I talk to a lot of people who keep hoping that something will come along that (a.) won't require them to learn anything new and (b.) will magically turn their material into dynamic digital content. The reality is that it starts way before words are put onto "paper" -- content expected to be consumed while tethered to the Web changes many of the assumptions most writers work from.

Something we've learned the hard way is that authors and editors respond much better to carrots than sticks when it comes to formats and tools. Learning a new tool while writing isn't much fun, but if there's a big payoff -- for example, on-demand building of ebook and PDF versions or colorized code syntax highlighting -- then there's far more interest and excitement.

IMHO, the next generation of authoring tools will look much more like today's blogging tools (Ecto, MarsEdit, Windows LiveWriter) than like today's word processors.

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Permalink Reply by Hubert Guillaud on September 10, 2008 at 10:56am

In allowing faster reading by the rapid sequential reading method, evocated by the french neuroscientist Stanislas Dehaene in his book "neurons of reading" for example. ;-)

In allowing links beetween books.

In facilitating the share of your notes.

In creating creative tools for a better undestanding of our texts, like BookLamp...

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Permalink Reply by Dave Pawson on September 12, 2008 at 10:09am

By integrating the reading experience with online content & activity. Not as an equivalent of a print book, think of it as a Blackberry with a good screen and usable keyboard or IO method. Word look-up then expands to find this phrase on wikipedia etc etc. Pile the acronyms into the device until it merges with all the other gadgets we are stacking up. The shake-out will come without being asked. Then ask what's left that is selling!

How about your top end Nokia, decent sized screen, clear print and full web access. Stop wasting processor power!

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