eBOOKS

eBOOKS

WHAT ARE THEY?
eBooks are books in digital form. They are currently available as either image files, which is useful for viewing comic books or cartoons, or simple text files, but may also come in other formats.

HOW DO YOU READ THEM?
You can view them on PC's and PDA's (personal digital assistants) withtext or image readers, although some formats require their own reader software. Also useful are text to speech converters,which read eBooks aloud. Or you can always print them out.

HOW ABOUT PORTABLE READERS?
There are specialised portable devices like the $US449 Cybook (www.bookeen.com) and the SonY Reader . They promise 'paper-like legibility' in the size of a paperback, but hte are hard to come by.Your best bet is to instal reader software on your PDA if you have one.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE?
More than you might think and much of it is FREE! A good starting point is project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org) a volunteer-led depository of books in the public domain. Top 10 downloads include The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Ulysses. Project Gutenberg of Australia (gutenberg.net.au) offers a selection of Australian history and literature. If instead you are are after a digital version of a best-seller, a commercial venture like www.ebooks.com will sell copies for around $US5-10.

HOW ABOUT THE FUTURE?
Publishers have made tentative steps with their own online eBook stores (HarperCollins Australia's is at au.perfectbound.com),but the real future lies elsewhere. Google is scanning 10 million books from five major libraries, and the idea of a searchable , cross-linked universal library is starting to take hold. Only the vexed issue of copyright stands in the way.

Reference
Andrew Humphreys
fyi - a beginners guide to the modern world
Weekender SMH

HOW COULD THEY BE USED IN A DISTRIBUTED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT?
Allows all student to have equal access to material.
Could encourage further student initiated inquiry - students compare and contrast texts.
Useful for students with literacy challenges - audio books.

WILL THEY CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEATH OF PRINTED MATTER?
Have you ever asked your child to turn off the television and do their homework only to be told they are doing their homework. The same could be said for using the computor to read books online. Online textbooks, whilst a powerful tool-based resource that can be updated easily, will probably not replace the traditional printed book .Health concerns including eyesight and general prolonged exposure to radiation will need to addressed. Not to mention literature being a vehicle powered by the imagination that lifts you into the realm of creativity. I simply can't imagine rainy afternoons snuggled up with a good ebook in bed. Not just yet!
sallyd