TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home

Archive for September, 2005

By David Rothman

Ouch! Despite muscle relaxants and an ergonomic desk and chair, my left arm still hurts like hell. I’m going to paste in slightly tweaked passage from an email I wrote to Richard Bellaver at Ball State University, a well-regarded usabilty expert.

Here’s some research that I hope a usability maven will undertake with a qualified medical expert. Why not study the ergonomics of laptops vs. tablets, especially for K-12?

I love the idea of the $100 MIT laptop computer, but think that laptops suck ergnomically. The ideal eye-screen distance may be at odds with the keyboard-user distance for typing. At least two-three decades ago, people knew about the benefits of detachable keyboards. We need to preach and practice the old-time ergnomics religion. To me, the optimal hardware by far would be a tablet propped up by a height-adjustable stand, with a detachable keyboard in use. I hope that the MIT laptop will have an alternative to the built-in keyboard–and will work with a USB detachable keyboard.

Details: Yes, I’m aware that laptops can reduce the strain on kids’ backs from carrying books. But why replace one ergonomic evil with another? I’m a big booster of the MIT project. I just want to see it done right. For the curious, I myself have gotten into trouble even with a desktop. Rx: More breaks.

Note: I should add that apparently the MIT machine can function as a tablet. True? If so, the wire-stand approach could be just the ticket.

By David Rothman

“…a PDF reader for the PSP has been released and users everywhere are sure to be thankful.” PSPUpdates via MAKE:Blog and Brian at MobileRead.

By David Rothman

How useful can e-book dictionaries be to elementary school students? Dr. Richard Bellaver and others at the Center for Information and Communication Sciences at Ball State University reached the following conclusion in a study sponsored by the AT&T Foundation:

This study confirms the premise that it is possible to use an eBook as a dictionary at the elementary-level. Although no official timings were conducted, researcher observation indicated that several children were able to find the right answer faster with an eBook than with a traditional dictionary. While operating the eBook the children also learned the basic principles of operating any electronic device. Furthermore, the Kindergarten children and the first graders found the eBooks exciting. For them, it is an adventure to learn how to use it. They felt more like they were getting to play rather than being forced to learn while they were using an eBook, and it made it easier for the teacher to keep their attention. However, the older children do not find eBook that exciting anymore. It was very difficult to keep their attention, which was also demonstrated bythe surprisingly poor test results of the 2nd and 3rd graders.

By David Rothman

TeleBlog contributor Casey Bisson has just received a Pepper Pad for review. He says: “The Pepper Pad, I believe, is the type of device we need to drive information services into the mainstream.” Casey hopes the device will help foster “Internet access well beyond the 100 million US subscribers who have at-home internet access today and start approaching the nearly 200 million US subscribers who carry cell phones. That’s why I’m interested in their applications in libraries, and that’s why I’m looking at [a] demo unit….”

Related: More on MIT’s $100 linux laptop for the Third World, via CNET.

By David Rothman

Nicholas Negroponte, founder of MIT’s Media Lab, has unveiled the design for a $100 laptop for the Third World. As noted in Technology Review, the machine “will at a minimum feature a full-color screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, a processor that runs at approximately 500 MHz, and 1 GB of Flash memory. It will also have a hand crank for generating power in areas of the world without electricity.” That’s all cool and good. At the same time, however, could a Digital Divide happen even within the Third World? Imagine a future when some rural people enjoy highly functional laptops but others must make do with mobile phones.

(Thanks to Brian at MobileRead.)

By David Rothman

Seth Godin’s marketing book Knock, Knock is now free in Mobipocket format via Ubibooks. Related: NYT on the Net and the used book market.

Update, Sept. 30, 2005: Ubibooks’ Michaël Dahan tells me: “From now, all the new books added (generally on Friday) are discounted 20 percent off during the whole week.”

By Roger Sperberg

Update: Today, Internet Tablet Talk reported receiving an anonymous rumor that the Nokia 770 price would be cut to $250. Previously people had speculated that Nokia might partner with large broadband suppliers who would offer the Wi-Fi-equipped device at below-retail prices to new customers. I speculate that this rumor might reflect the realization of such a deal.

Internet Tablet Talk reported Wednesday evening it has received “official word” that the eagerly anticipated Nokia 770’s release has been pushed to October. Many in the e-book world, myself included, see it as a revolutionary device that will have great effects in computing in general and boost e-books tremendously. In May, Nokia had announced the device would appear in the third quarter of this year. Since Friday is the last day of 3Q and expected signs of imminent release had not shown up, the postponement was not completely unexpected.
(more…)

By Roger Sperberg

In the children’s book section of the Library of the Future, you can have your type in any color you want, no matter how old you are.

By David Rothman

Tim O’Reilly, one of the most respected publishers of computer books, sides with Google, against which the Authors Guild has launched a copyright suit. Here’s part of his op-ed in the New York Times today:

Google promises an alternative to the obscurity imposed on most books. It makes that great corpus of less-than-bestsellers accessible to all. By pointing to a huge body of print works online, Google will offer a way to promote books that publishers have thrown away, creating an opportunity for readers to track them down and buy them. Even online sellers like Amazon offer only a small fraction of the university libraries’ titles. While there are many unanswered questions about how businesses will help consumers buy the books they’ve found through a search engine for printed materials that is as powerful as Google’s current Web search, there’s great likelihood that Google Print’s Library Project will create new markets for forgotten content. In one bold stroke, Google will give new value to millions of orphaned works.

Irony department: I’d love to quote the entire O’Reilly op-ed but can’t for the obvious reason–the copyright laws. The Times itself, by the way, has walled off certain kind of content from all but paying customers.

By David Rothman

Details from Alex at MobileRead.

By David Rothman

Details from UPI. Related: Japanese e-book growth coming from subscriptions.

By David Rothman

A Librie-type machine is coming out–from Tianjin Jinke Electronics Company–complete with a six-inch screen with E-Ink technology. That should mean low power consumption and screen visibility in strong sunlight.

The Tianjin e-book device, which includes a Librie-type fold out cover, could be a harbinger for $150 Librie clones, especially since E-Ink is releasing a display kit for developers. Besides having 64M storage inside, this baby supports SD/MMC memory cards up to a gig rather than confining you to Sony-blessed memory sticks. Plus, the Model V8 in the “Hanlin eBook” series reads TXT, HTML, PDF, DOC, PPT and even Excel. Size is 194mm(L) by 133.6mm (w) by 13.4mm (H). Oh, and notice the subscreen in the photo? Is there interaction via a stylus? I’m just hoping that the screen contrast is better than the Librie–and that we’ll soon see an affordable and reliable U.S. version with an English-language OS!

More photos

Via just-received photos you can see a front shot, another front shot, a cover shot and a side shot. I won’t shrink the photographs, so you can enjoy all the details. Big thanks–for the information and the forwarded photos–to Vladimir Levchenko at LBook and MUK’s Department of Mobile Computers in the Ukraine.

Along with OpenReader’s alliance with OSoft, this potentially could be catnip for the global e-book industry.

About the company behind the machine–and U.S. stupidity

Maker of the machine is Tianjin Jinke, a Hong Kong-based company. See? Told you China is becoming E-Book Central, assuming it isn’t that already. Hats off to the Chinese for being more visionary than we Yanks have been. Remember, E Ink originated here in the States, but the Fortune 500 and U.S. pols so far have blown it. I wouldn’t be surprised if zillions of Tianjin machines or the equivalents from another company appeared in Chinese schools and libraries. Something to think about in the States, where some of our textbooks are decades old. Talk about national priorities!

Translation help: Can one of TeleRead’s Chinese-speaking readers translate what’s on the screen in the photo below?

Update, 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Washington, D.C., time: The vision for the Tianjin machines goes back a way. See old People’s Daily clip from 2002. I’d love to find out the extent to which E-Ink has relied on Chinese research. A big lesson could be that no single country has a monopoly on the enabling technology and that it will advance faster through open exchanges of knowledge. What is frustrating is the backwardness of American policymakers in understanding the technology’s importance. Not to mention American cutbacks in R&D that will pave the way for future technologies such as E-Ink. (Thanks to “Infosquawk” for the pointer to the old clip.)

In other hardware news: New miniature Windows PC model from OQO, via BobR at MobileRead.

By David Rothman

Details via Brian at MobileRead and Digital Camera Tracker. Related: Palm Teams With Microsoft for Smart Phone, from Rochelle in LISNews. Also see NYT story.

By David Rothman

Just when will some philanthropist Get It? The Great Gatsby, perhaps the American novel of the 20th century, needs to be on the Net for U.S. students to read for free.

Washington Bono-ized Gatsby out of the current public domain here in the States, but I still keep hoping that a public-spirited business type will understand the possibilities here. I’m talking about fair payment to the Fitzgerald heirs. Bill Gates owns several copies of the paper edition and has called Gatsby his favorite book. Maybe he can read Sheila O’Malley’s birthday tribute to Fitzgerald and understand why for years I’ve been saying that Gatsby should be online for free in the States. The “in the” is important. Gatsby is free in Australia via the Gutenberg-related site there. As interpreted by Gutenberg, Australian law still regards Gatsby as in the public domain, despite a recent lengthening of Aussie copyright terms. Here’s to the glories of “grandfathering” or equivalents!

Speaking of the past: Check out the NYT’s take on New Orleans books and other literature.

Left arm update: It still aches. Rx: muscle relaxant. I still can’t post as often as I’d like.

(Via Blogrunner.)

By David Rothman

Ellen Hage sent in a thoughtful list of features for the ideal K-12 device for e-books and other apps. Nope, it isn’t the eBookWise-1150 pictured here. But I can see the eBookWise as a way to bring a wide variety of classics to a budget-starved school in the middle of nowhere.

Meanwhile, from Eric Litwack, comes a ‘tudy review of the 1150. “It cost me $107 new off eBay and I like it. It’s like something out of my late-80s William Gibson phase…

“The resolution is comically low although not as bad as some other devices, the backlight is beautiful, the price is right, the weight is good, the battery life (all day) is good, and you can throw it out with no tears when something better comes along.”

What’s on Eric’s machine? See below for at least some of the titles.

By David Rothman

What’s the best hardware for e-book reading and other apps for K-12? I myself like the idea of a tablet that could be carried in a knapsack and include a detachable keyboard, maybe the fold-up variety. I’m not the biggest fan of laptops, especially for kids. The ergonomics aren’t always the best. The ideal distance between eye and screen may clash with the optimal distance from the keyboard. I also think that needs will vary by student and app. One size does not fit all, although an eight- or nine-inch screen might be a compromise. I’d also like to see a pop-out stand to prop up the tablet while the student is writing rather than reading. So how do you feel? The comment box beckons.

Speaking of ergonomics: My left arm hurts like hell even with a detachable keyboard and other good stuff, and this week I may have to limit writing for the TeleBlog if the pain continues. Good ideas on affordable voice recognition software if it comes to that?

Luddite reply: Oh, those Luddites. They love cute litte replies that duck some very real issues. If nothing else, Luddites need to consider the combined weight of books in kids’ knapsacks. Not to mention the thousands of free e-books on the Net.

By David Rothman

OK, so Mike’s joked about the Japanese going blind reading off the iPod nano. But might some brave Americans want to try this anyway? Reportedly the 1.5-inch diagonal screen “is extremely sharp at 176×132 and a dot pitch of 0.168mm. Colors are vibrant and text is sharp, giving a great impression of the Mac’s Aqua theme.” So can Apple’s latest models use the iPod notes format? If so and if you own one, head on over to ManyBooks.net and you’ll find a wealth of books there. Let me know what you think. And what’s battery life like if you use the iPod as an e-book machine? Related: More on iPod notes.