An e-book reader to light my fire?

Amazon is supposed to launch an e-book reader named Kindle tomorrow. According to Steven Levy's article The Future of Reading in Newsweek, the Kindle will use e-paper, allow full text searching, hold about 200 books, and have wireless connectivity. Levy's full article is worth reading for it also talks about the potential changing role of writers. The counter-point view of the Kindle at Information Week is also worth a look.

I've been writing about (and hoping for) an affordable and practical e-book reader and its potential impact on schools and libraries since about 1995, So far I've been disappointed. Despite the logic of moving from cellulose to silicon, things have just not moved at the pace for which I'd hoped.

But one thing that excites me about this gadget is not the device itself, but that Amazon reports to have worked out deals with major publishers to sell e-versions of their best sellers for $9.99. This may do for e-books and e-book readers what the $.99 song did for iTunes and iPods. At less than ten bucks, you aren't paying much more for that latest Daniel Silva or Clive Cussler than for an ad-filled magazine. Oh, with its wireless connectivity, a truly electronic version of magazines can be sent to the Kindle as well.

I've always held the hope that e-book readers just might prove to be of real benefit to struggling readers with the potential for truly differentiated reading materials, built in glossaries, text-to-speech synthesis, etc.

I've darned well waited long enough. This puppy better be good. And at $399, come down in price real soon.

Thanks to Will Richardson's The iPod of Reading post for this head's up about these articles. 

  Prototype from Engadget Sept 2006. Sorta buh-tugly, unfortunately 

Examples of e-books?

Another e-mail...

Hello Doug,
We loved your presentation to librarians in Jefferson County Colorado last Fall; so inspiring!
On that note, I have a request.
Our 4th graders are creating their own e books on the People and Land of Africa.
Do you know of any good examples of ebooks out there I can show them?
Our ebooks are starting to look like boring Powerpoints....
If these ebooks look better than now, I will send you a copy or two to share with other librarians.
Thank you so much!

MeLISsa
If you would hit the mark you must aim a little above it. Henry Wadsworth  Longfellow

Hi MeLISsa,
Thanks so much for the kind words about the Jeff Co. workshops. I know I had fun so I hope others did as well.

This will probably date me, but I still think the gold standard in electronic books was (is?) the product Living Books. As I remember, these versions of popular children's books had some of the following characteristics that really took advantage of their electronic formats including:

•     the stories were read aloud.
•     the words that were selected would be read aloud.
•     the books were in multiple languages.
•     the illustrations were animated.
•     the books were FUN.

I would suggest one additional benefit to student-produced electronic books – they can be easily shared with the public for comment. Check out one of our middle school’s Mini-Mysteries.

Rather than the kids using PowerPoint for their books, they might use simple web authoring software and post them online (with proper privacy issues addressed). Not only could they be shared, buy they could embed a podcast of them reading the story, links to other materials, and even animated illustrations.

I am going to post your letter and my reply to the Blue Skunk. Readers have better examples and ideas than I’ve been able to supply.

I would love to see what you come up with as a final product!

Thanks for writing and all the best,

Doug

More e-book news

Interesting article in April 24, 2006 New York Times on how newspapers are looking to transition themselves to e-paper.

Thanks to John Dyer for sending this to me.