Wednesday, December 29, 2010

5 E-Book Trends That Will Change the Future of Publishing


The trends, care of Mashable.

From the piece...

1. Enhanced E-Books Are Coming and Will Only Get Better

Consumers have already shown that they love e-books for their convenience and accessibility, but ultimately most e-books today are the same as print, just in digital form. The e-book of the not-too-distant future will be much more than text. Interactivity has arrived and will change the nature of the e-book.

Imagine video that shows how to fix a leaky faucet or solve complex math problems in statistics; audio that pronounces foreign language words as you read them, and assessment that lets you check what you remember and comprehend what you just read. These interactive features and more are being developed now and will be on the market in a matter of weeks, not months.

Publishers are already conjuring up designs for the enhanced e-book of the future. Imagine still: If you miss five questions on your geometry test, will your book adapt and change to help you learn the questions and concepts you missed? Will your new novel provide a platform for live exchange with reading groups where you can discuss the book with the author? Today’s enhanced e-books that feature talking heads or out-takes from movies are yesterday’s ideas. Consumers will expect a much greater experience.

1 comment:

Emmy said...

This does sound like an interesting idea, but as a stauch literary traditionalist (I refuse to use Kindle, e-books, iPads, etc., unless my grades at college hang in the balance), I am a bit suspicious of all these new ideas. They seem very nice, but I think we're missing the point of books.

Books are not video games or computers. They are as interactive as your imagination allows them to be.

So, I will say that these e-books with their microchips and wires are very impressive, but give me paper and ink every time.