This post is from my “Archives of Incomplete Thoughts” but I wanted to share them with you all…
I have been pondering for a while the use of the eBooks (and specifically the Kindle) in Academia. Ever since I considered purchasing my first eReader (the Sony eReader 505) I have found the convenience of having several books at my finger tips, without weighing me down, to be the most obvious benefit. That said, I believe there are many others, and some which can result in the elusive “win-win” situations for producers and consumers alike.
- Affordability of textbooks
- Desk Reference/Review copies
- Physical size/weight relief
- notetaking and highlighting
Need to rethink old views:
- why see “a page”?
- how do I “flip” through a book?
- what is the focus/purpose of an “illustration”?
- are there other ways to “illustrate”?
- How do we do “citations?”
Challenges:
- How to compare two separated pages (i.e., pages 57, and 106)Â (side by side?)
Issues I want to see if they have added/changed:
- Highlighting:Â does the menu appear next to where I clicked? How is that interface changed?
- can we move/sync highlights/notes between devices?
Have you given much thought to the changes we can see with Digital Textbooks? Â What are your thoughts? Please share them in the comments.
Makes me wonder with this artist, perhaps it will some day be true: http://www.thebookofbiff.com/2009/12/28/925-thin/ Electronic book marks.