 | At first glance they are very similar, except that the content is not
fixed on a printed page but one a screen. |
| But after that, the differences start to appear:
 | There are no 'pages' as the text adapts to the device and the reader's
settings |
| The text is tagged with XHTML (XML). This
is an upgraded version of the HTML used by the web and many
word processors store their files with XHTML tags. |
| So the digital format allows other types of media such as images, movies
and sound, to be embedded so the
'enhanced' ebook will move the ebook away from being a book emulator and into new territory.
|
|
| An ebook is just a rather carefully constructed set of files that is
called 'a container'. |
| There are some significant differences between print and
electronic formats:
| Pages – They flow like web pages in ebooks
so no pages anymore |
| Font – Readers let you change the size
(rather like the web) |
| Layout – The rules are supplied by the CSS
and can be interpreted by the browser customised to the machine. So ‘design’
is part of the reader functionality |
| TOC & Index are now digital |
|
| So with no fixed pages or layout, texts are easier to
prepare for publication – I predict that Word & Open Office will export
ebooks next year (2012) |
| You
can buy e-books and take delivery while at home, work, or on the go. So
instant gratification! |
| Text
can be searched, cross-referenced or looked up in a dictionary. So excellent
for non-fiction books. |
| Because e-books are electronic files, years of reading material can be
stored in the memory of your computer or reading device. Wonderful for
globetrotters and commuters. |
| It
is not too difficult to make and download your own files to an ereaders so,
heaven forbid, you can use it for work documents. |
| Your e-books can be stored on several computers or portable devices, making
them accessible from multiple places. You can even keep notes and find your
place as you move between reading devices. |
| If
you ‘lose’ an e-book reader, you can downloading the titles again (up to the
number of allowable times). |
| Readers who have eye problems (everybody over 30 years old) can benefit from
the adjustable text size and font. And the latest version is DAISY compliant. |
| No
trees are injured in the making of e-books, making them a greener alternatives. |
| Ereading might change your reading habits
as you can carry a range of material with you and suit the book to suit your
mood. |
| The
digital files can be read to you. |
| How long will it be before Google will be able to stream a translation
of a book between languages? |
At the Frankfurt Book Fair 2010, there were 2
manufacturers who promised to deliver a prototype of your design before the
end of the show. So the manufacturers are geared up and ready.
Your
files probably have some visible and invisible data that will cause trouble
when you present it for conversion. The detailed
preparations depend on where you start – Output formats such as PDF are
generally more difficult to work with. You need to add
metadata as this is what makes your work
visible in the digital world. The software also assembles the
‘container’ which we call an ebook.
There are lots of bureaus offering to help but this is
something the writer need to master and the new format will make easy
especially when the word processor software is updated.
The big names are Amazon, Google, Ingrams, but the investment in
infrastructure means that there are thousands of sources of ebooks. Amazon
will welcome anybody, as will some other ebook vaults, so there are no major obstacles to making yourself a publisher.
For the writer, there is no need to print and distribute copies which makes
it cheaper to 'put your ebook on the bookshelf' of as many outlets as you can
find. The market will decide what happens next. There are some complex international tax
rules for digital material so you need to tread carefully.
Marketing is now different because the supply-chain options have changed.
You
need to understand the role of metadata for the search engines that will let
people find your books.
How this will impact on the publishing business
Ebooks
lower the barrier to entry – but it is not quite open access. Ebooks
dramatically
reduce the cost to prepare the design, but not the editorial work.
There
is a negligible costs to supply and no stock-holding which undercuts the
business model of the big publishers who have been the only ones who can afford to spread
printed copies of their
books about.
I hope
we can avoid the issues that have beset the music and film industries. The
keys to a working relationship with our e-readerships are:
