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The right tools for the job? hardware and software

for e-books

Name: Penny Garrod

UKOLN

University of Bath

Bath, BA2 7AY

UKOLN is supported by:

Emailp.garrod@ukoln.ac.ukURLhttp://www.ukoln.ac.uk/

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e-books and e-texts in context supplementary - will not replace printed media user expectations: 24/7 services and access; convenience: anyplace, anytimedigital everything: TVs/DVD’s/WAP/handhelds/ demand for portable personal devicesgovernment agenda: accessibility; inclusivity; ICT; Lifelong Learning; skills and jobs

Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)development of e-content:

– DNER/RDN/Virtual Training Suite; web-based learning materials; UKonline website; publishing houses …...

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Focusing on the end-user Questions we should be asking re eBook devicesWhat do users want and which devices are popular?

- learners

- the general public What is the status of current digital technology?How to future proof?- built in redundancy and advances in technology; trends; fads and fashion

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e-books: focus on libraries and learning centres

Challenges for service providers: industry still developing; market growing with commitment among publishers to provide contentdedicated eBook readers: soon out of date; bits and pieces to keep track of when lending to readers; cataloguing and circulation issues E- content: high costs - collaborative purchasing could be way forward; Digital Rights Management; Open standards (OEB) & proprietary systemslevels of demand - now and in the future? surveys suggest growth in demand

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hardware choices

dedicated eBook readers - designed specifically for reading e- texts e.g REB 1100; eBookman; goReader (USA)

handheld devices/Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

e.g.Palm, Handspring, Pocket PCs,

MP3 players

PCs, Laptops: require downloadable software e.g.Acrobat eBook Reader; Microsoft Reader (both available for free)

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Dedicated ebook Readers Gemstar eBook:

REB 1100 (black/white)REB 1200 (colour)RCA manufacture through

Gemstarspecifically designed for

reading e-books good display - backlit

screen (can be read in bed with light off!)

lots of pieces to lose - stylus, zipped case, adaptor, cloth etc.

REB 1200

text search

bookmark

annotate

connect to PC

built in modem - internet access

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dedicated ebook reader for students (USA)

goReader: www.goreader.comaimed at US students - course texts for one semester Open Ebook Standard (OEB) compliant - supports multiple formats800X600 web browsinglightweight tablet (2.4lb)Windows CE OS + MP3 files

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PDAs and Pocket PCs

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

PsionsPalm PilotsPocket PCsHandspringsApple - iBook???

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Pocket PCsLeading manufacturers:CompaqAudiovoxToshibaCasioHewlett PackardSymbolIntermecuse Microsoft reader - free to download or pre-loaded

Compaq: iPAQ H3760/65

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eBookMan from Franklin

multi-functional: books, music, and information half way between dedicated reader and PDAcheap to buy - in UKdesigned for reading ebooks but...small screen

http://www.franklin-uk.co.uk/

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eBook software for PCs, laptops & notebooks (1)

•available free for PCs/laptops and Pocket PCs

•On-screen readability: ClearType display technology

•dynamic reading: highlighting, note-taking, book-marking, drawing

•preloaded on Pocket PC 2002 + links to University of Virginia e-text center

http://www.microsoft.com/reader/default.asp

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eBook software for PCs, laptops & notebooks (2)

Adobe Acrobat eReader:free for notebooks or desktop computersgood for preserving appearance of documentgraphics, pictures, rich fonts & “intuitive interface”content (UK) from WH Smith [or Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com for USA]

http://www.adobe.com/products/ebookreader/

main/html

http://ebooks.whsmith.co.uk/Default.asp

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Buying e-content:a UK ‘books portal’

http://www.books.co.uk/publishing.html

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devices plus content: Powells.com

http://www.powells.com/ebook/ebook.html

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http://www.dontsweat.com/

e-authoring

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Publishers - new business models: www.netlibrary.com

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Conclusions

eBooks (devices and texts) still in development stage - low sales reflect this

convergence of hardware devices -market in state of flux (caution needed)

younger generation/students/business people = most likely users. They will increasingly own handheld devices capable of reading e-texts (example mobile phones)

free software for use with PCs and laptops -download and evaluate it (some free texts available e.g. out of copyright books)

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More conclusions

useful solution for reference materials where texts are consulted rather than read. Where searchability, linking and currency is vital and when text is in short discrete chunks. Examples:

– encyclopaedias and dictionaries– technical manuals– handbooks (chemistry, physics, nursing...)– gazetteers– others

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a few resources (from many)

www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue29/wilson

- useful and up to date article [by Eboni Project researcher at Strathclyde University]

http://eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/documents/

definition.html

- lists devices and types of ebooks

www.jisc.ac.uk/dner/ebooks/strategy1.html

- overview from JISC working group on ebooks (Hazel Woodward and Louise Edwards -Sept 2001)

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/central/ebooks/needs.

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