November 12th, 2008 by Learning Systems
Besides creating easy-to-use, comfortable and convenient eBook reader models, more will have to be done to convince the public to switch from their traditional paper books. Many people regard the shift in a similar way to learning material like online courseware. That is, although there may be something special about a paper-bound book (or a face-to-face learning environment), the format isn’t really what’s important–it’s the content and availability. The ability to choose from a vast collection of works, cheaply, will reel people in.
Those of us who depend on the internet, whether we’re online courseware students or internet socializers, are used to depending on information that’s floating around in that amorphous “cloud” of data. But many people keep very little information on the internet. Some might fear that if some terrible, apocalyptic disaster were to catapult us into a primitive state, all those precious stories, not to mention learning tools like online courseware, would disappear into thin, cloudless air.
November 12th, 2008 by Learning Systems
Price will probably be the greatest obstacle to overcome for eBook readers. Kindle’s price of $400 puts it out of the average online courseware user’s budget. And though Kindle’s rights protection technology is convenient in some ways, users also complain that Kindle charges for material that’s free on the internet. There are costs for accessing blogs and newspapers, as well as surcharges for uploading your own documents.
Many online courseware students enjoy e-learning not only for the conveniences of distance learning, but also its cost-effectiveness. If eBook reader companies don’t rethink their models and systems, expensive readers coupled with costly reading material will deter not only online courseware users, but the majority of eBook reader users.
November 12th, 2008 by Learning Systems
In a previous blog I said that the rights of online courseware developers, authors and publishers need to be protected by eBook readers. However, this needs to happen as part of a new business model for distributing reading material.
As it is now, eBooks are still too expensive. EBooks shouldn’t be sold at a price comparable to their paper-bound cousins–after all, publishing an eBook costs almost nothing. Many people get their reading material second hand, or find open source online courseware or public domain works, or borrow resources from the library, for free.
Of course, reading material writers, online courseware authors and publishers need to earn profits. But they also should take into consideration the fact that people will not pay as much for eBooks as they will for paper-bound ones.
November 12th, 2008 by Learning Systems
In addition to the basic ones outlined here, there are some additional features that will separate the wildly popular eBook readers from the just popular or unpopular. These include text-to-speech, annotation tools, the ability to size up the font for when we get older, and expandable storage using an SD or CF card. What other features would you like for your ideal online courseware reading experience?
The future of the eBook reader in online courseware is bright, as long we we keep imagining. True, the readers available on the market–the Sony Reader, the Iliad and the Kindle among them–aren’t quite up to snuff. In order for eBook readers to make their way into the hands of all book lovers, LMS users and online courseware students, there will need to be some creative thinking and brainstorming.
November 12th, 2008 by Learning Systems
One essential eBook reader feature that goes especially well with online courseware users is a built-in wireless connection. For example, Kindle’s wi-fi access makes buying and reading books simple and convenient.
EBook Readers with wireless technologies allow content to be loaded faster, an important feature for online courseware users with busy lives. Knowledge Center analyst J. Gerry Purdy predicts that the future eBook reader will have multiple wireless technologies, like Wi-Fi and cellular capabilities, as well as wireless wide area networking (3G and WiMax).
But let’s not forget some very practical features. Besides having indoor and outdoor screen readability, eBook readers of the future should have a nice long battery life. What’s portability if you need to constantly recharge? Pages that are easy to turn are also important. And for online courseware users who stay up studying at night, a back-lit screen is a must.
November 11th, 2008 by Learning Systems
The shortcomings of today’s eBook readers will need to be overcome in order to secure their place in the online courseware world. One feature that eBook readers will need is integrated animation and video. In regular books, photos are sometimes designated to the middle of the book, where they’re bunched together to save on reproduction costs. But in eBooks, including photos and videos shouldn’t be pricey. Creating more interactive eBook readers will be essential to keep up with increasingly engaging online courseware.
Suitable digital rights management and intellectual property protection are aspects that will also need to be ensured in eBook readers. Purdy suggests providing an open standard for eBook publishing that’s “cross-device, cross-publisher and includes DRM–all at reasonable prices…then people will gladly pay for the privilege of enjoying reading that really good story.” The rights of online courseware developers, authors and publishers will thus be protected.
November 11th, 2008 by Learning Systems
Say you come across an unfamiliar word in your online courseware, or a newspaper article, or a novel you’re reading. With online courseware, of course, you have the internet at your fingertips as a vocabulary resource. But maybe you’re commuting to work and passing your time on the train with a good book. Have you brought a pocket dictionary and/or thesaurus along for the ride? Probably not.
A convenient eBook reader capability that will, as Purdy suggests, make the readers “better” than a regular book is easy access to the dictionary and thesaurus. All you’ll have to do is highlight a word and the definition will pop up.
Another feature that eBook readers should possess is functionality on all networks, unlike cell phones, for example. Subscribers should be able to go to any book or online courseware material distributor and get the book they want.
November 11th, 2008 by Learning Systems
Another feature that will help move eBook readers into the future of online courseware is a high-contrast, high-resolution color display. Imagine: it’s a bright, sunny day and you’d like to do some reading by the pool. With a high quality eBook reader, you should be able to study your online courseware material both indoors and out.
Since online courseware material usually contains not only text but audio, photos and videos, a perfect eBook reader will have high storage capacity, 10 GB being a minimum and 50 GB or more being ideal. Another basic feature a reader should have is random access; you should be able to select a chapter or bookmark and be taken instantly to that place in any of the eBooks you’re reading.
