1 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: URL

2 e-books and e-texts in context  supplementary - will not replace printed media  user expectations: 24/7 services and access; convenience: anyplace, anytime  digital everything: TVs/DVD’s/WAP/handhelds/ demand for portable personal devices  government 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 …...

3 Focusing on the end-user Questions we should be asking re eBook devices  What 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

4 e-books: focus on libraries and learning centres Challenges for service providers :  industry still developing; market growing with commitment among publishers to provide content  dedicated eBook readers: soon out of date; bits and pieces to keep track of when lending to readers; cataloguing and circulation issues  E- content: high costs - collaborative purchasing could be way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 systems  levels of demand - now and in the future? surveys suggest growth in demand

5 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)

6 Dedicated ebook Readers Gemstar eBook:  REB 1100 (black/white)  REB 1200 (colour)  RCA manufacture through Gemstar  specifically 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

7 dedicated ebook reader for students (USA) goReader:  aimed at US students - course texts for one semester  Open Ebook Standard (OEB) compliant - supports multiple formats  800X600 web browsing  lightweight tablet (2.4lb)  Windows CE OS + MP3 files

8 PDAs and Pocket PCs Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)  Psions  Palm Pilots  Pocket PCs  Handsprings  Apple - iBook???

9 Pocket PCs Leading manufacturers:  Compaq  Audiovox  Toshiba  Casio  Hewlett Packard  Symbol  Intermec  use Microsoft reader - free to download or  pre-loaded Compaq: iPAQ H3760/65

10 eBookMan from Franklin  multi-functional : books, music, and information  half way between dedicated reader and PDA  cheap to buy - in UK  designed for reading ebooks but...small screen

11 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 links to University of Virginia e-text center

12 eBook software for PCs, laptops & notebooks (2) Adobe Acrobat eReader:  free for notebooks or desktop computers  good for preserving appearance of document  graphics, pictures, rich fonts & “intuitive interface”  content (UK) from WH Smith [or Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com for USA] main/html

13 Buying e-content: a UK ‘books portal’

14 devices plus content: Powells.com

15 e-authoring

16 Publishers - new business models:

17 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)

18 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

19 a few resources (from many)  - useful and up to date article [by Eboni Project researcher at Strathclyde University]  definition.html - lists devices and types of ebooks  - overview from JISC working group on ebooks (Hazel Woodward and Louise Edwards -Sept 2001)  Html