Going digital
A few of links of note I came across in the last couple of days:
- Google moving towards e-book service
- New York Public Library Digital Gallery
- iPhone as e-book reader?
Digital books and content. It seems everytime you turn around these days someone is wanting to revolutionise the way we read books. Each new piece of technology promises to be the one that changes the game forever. It’s kind of like those flying cars and robots that would make our lives easier … ever promised, never delivered. On the good side of the digital book world, the NYPL Digital Gallery is an excellent resource and use of technology allowing access to resources most people would never see in their lifetimes.
Perhaps working at a book company that primarily deals with “analogue” books has pre-disposed me towards the traditional format. I’ve always felt the adoption of new ways (or technologies) should be as straightforward as the old way. E-books should be as easy as “analogue” books to get, read, use, carry, lend, borrow, buy, sell, store, display etc. Don’t saddle us with bad technology, cumbersome DRM, poor interface, weak legibility, vendor lock-in and so on.
