eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk ebooks overview and EBONI project Ruth Wilson 7 th June 2001

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk Outline What is an ebook? The state of the industry today EBONI

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk What is an ebook? The term “ebook” is used to refer to: –The type of content that comprises electronic books –The platforms on which this content is available –The formats in which the content is available –Methods of delivering the content

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk Content Out of copyright material (Project Gutenberg, the Internet Public Library) Books published in print and electronically e-only books (Stephen King’s “Riding the Bullet”) Self-published ebooks (Online Originals, 1stbooks.com) Extended books

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk Platforms PCs and Macs PDAs and Pocket PCs Dedicated ebook readers (hardware)

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk Platforms goReader eBookMan hiebook REB 1100 REB 1200

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk Formats ASCII HTML Proprietary formats –Microsoft Reader, Adobe Acrobat Ebook Reader (Glassbook Reader), eRocket, MobiPocket Reader, Peanut Reader, TK3 Reader OEB Publication Structure

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk Delivery Ebooks can be delivered online, on CD- ROM, made available for downloading, sent to an address, or printed on demand. They can be: –Free –Purchasable –Borrowable (netLibrary, ebrary)

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk Here and Now Increasing interest among stakeholders Enthusiasm among authors: –Matt Beaumont’s “The e Before Christmas” –“On the Edge” – Attachments spin-off –Frederick Forsyth’s “Quintet” Content becoming available from international publishers Hardware and software

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk EBONI

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk EBONI: Aims EBONI aims to: –Evaluate the different approaches to the design of electronic textbooks, and to identify which techniques/styles are most successful in enabling users to retrieve, quickly and easily, the information they require. –Identify and report on the individual requirements of students and academics from different disciplines and backgrounds in learning and teaching on the Web. –Compile and promote a set of best practice guidelines for the publication of textbooks on the Internet, reflecting the usability requirements of the UK HE community.

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk EBONI: Aims These objectives will be achieved by: –Conducting a survey of the range of learning and teaching material available on the Internet, to identify the different designs and techniques used for displaying content. –Selecting particular textbooks which are representative of the variety of approaches to the electronic publication of such texts.

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk EBONI: Aims These objectives will be achieved by: –Developing a methodology for evaluating electronic books. –Working with users from different disciplines and backgrounds to carry through this methodology. –Using the results of the experiments to identify mechanisms for improving the usability of electronic books.

eboni.cdlr.strath.ac.uk EBONI: Methodology Selection of material Selection of participants Selection of tasks –Scavenger hunt, memory tasks, high cognitive skill tasks Selection of evaluation techniques –Questionnaires, observation, think-aloud, interviews

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