Economic Advantages
As
many benefits as the e-book could provide for the reader, there are just as
many important advantages for the writer. For a truly creative writer that is
well versed in the technical aspects of e-book creativity, there is a myriad
of tools at his or her disposal that can be used to emphasize a point,
embellish a story or simply tell the story in a much more realistic fashion.
In novels, novella, and technical trade journal presentations, of which
is presently enjoying this technology, things like sound effects that
coincide to the reader’s place in the story are already being integrated. For
instance, in a horror novel, imagine reading a book and actually hearing the
creaking doors, the sound of banshees, or the likes emanating in the
background when certain text passages are read. With martial arts instructional or “how-to”
digital e-books, this can be a godsend to a writer that wants to clearly,
concisely and artfully stress important points in teaching and training. I
have found in creating my own e-books that power, timing, and speed gauges
that I’ve incorporated make it possible for the reader (or viewer) to get a
real sense of the swiftness and explosiveness that is intended to be applied
at any given point in a high-speed combinational technique like an Okinawan
toudi-jutsu renzokuken (continuous fist) technique. Until the advent of
e-book technology that was quite literally not possible. The martial arts writer, creator, producer, educator can also take solace
in knowing that magnification, vectoring, zoom, depth perception, optical
rendering and the likes can really enhance the reading and martial arts
learning experience as well. A zoom-in and freeze-frame integrated into a
high-speed martial arts technique can be taken to another level when the
action is stopped and a clearly detailed narration is provided about the
technique while real time video is inserted. This area of e-book technology
is just beginning to surface for its educational value but has been
integrated in arcade games and some types of sophisticated presentations for
sometime. Disadvantages We have all grown up for as long as we can remember reading books that
resemble…well, just that. Books! Old used books with dog-eared pages, brand
new books with the smell of freshly printed ink, the feel of a slick glossy
embossed covers and your basic styles with lots of words that are usually
integrated with an assortment of photos, graphic or sketches all add to this
all too familiar attachment for the good old fashioned book. For those of us
that were weaned on this form of communications it’s difficult to accept the
newer high-tech forms of cerebral expression. Especially when we consider
that paper books are usually compact, portable, and can be read just about
anytime or anyplace. Will Digital E-books make
Paper Books Obsolete? I venture to say probably not, but there's no doubt the digital
revolution will spread to books. And, it’s beginning to happen now with the
advent of the palm pilot and other portable, self-contained electronic
devices like the laptop. In fact, this new technology is beginning to take on
the feel, shape, function and heft of typical paperbound fare. The exteriors
sport rich leather-bound covers, feel and weight comparable to the “real
thing”, but once you open them these compact devices reveal liquid crystal
flat screens that resemble pages and with the click of a button it digitally
turns the page like any typical paper book. There’s even an advantage to this
form of reading because the screens illuminate and can actually be read in
the dark. Talking about turning a disadvantage into an advantage? Simply said, personally, I think people who enjoy reading traditional
paperback will continue to so for many decades to come. There’s just
something about cracking open a new volume by a favorite author or smelling
the new book that has not been opened or read by someone else. To them, the
concept of an electronic book may seem cold and mechanical but surely they’ll
dabble with them until something comes in the form of an e-book that’s not
available in traditional book fare and they will gradually become a user. So it’s logical I would predict that even the diehards would be able to
appreciate the e-book experience when the time or situation permits. Paperback Book Replacement
or Merely an Addition to this Enormous Education Market? Which
brings us to the next logical question? Will e-books actually replace the
old-fashioned paperback traditional tomes of yesteryear? First, let’s consider this. As the Internet emerged as a provider of
news and information, it sent shudders through the old-fashioned news media
that publish on paper. Some pundits predicted that the abundance of web sites
would drive a stake into the heart of the slower, static newspapers and
magazines. But that hasn't happened. News-based Web sites didn't replace
newspapers. Instead, they complemented and enhanced what the old-style medium
offered. What couldn't be provided to the reader or because of space or time
constraints could now be provided through an Internet site. Such things as
video, links that provide further information, chat areas and other rich
experiences significantly enhance the information experience for site
viewers. But it’s different and still the same in many ways. Traditional book
publishers are gradually getting a handle on this and want to capitalize on
the trends, technological advances and find some middle ground where their
new publications and select popular titles and have proven to be classics in
their catalogue eventually find their way into mainstream e-book markets.
Most publishers, because of their conservative reluctance to change, tend to
wait until they see where the market is going before they jump into the
technology fray. Generally, it’s the small and independent publishers that
initiate these changes and once they’ve proven successful with titles, or
products, then the big companies jump in and try to dominate the markets.
That is now happen with major publishers in the electronic e-book business.
The Traditional Book Publisher’s Point of
View
It could be easy for the layperson to
assume that the traditional paper-and-ink book industry is finally under
siege. After centuries of paper-oriented innovations, from the invention to
the printing press to bound pages to easy-to-read serif typefaces, the
publishing industry, although not completely ready to veer away from the pulp
and ink trade and embrace the ephemeral ones and zeros of digitized
e-books, are taking a closer look at expanding their publishing
empires. Several big-name publishers
including Random House, Simon & Schuster, and Time Warner are taking
initial stab at this market by beginning to focus by releasing e-book titles
by well established authors that have sold enormously well in the paperback
trade. To name a few of these noted
authors I’d have to include Stephen King, Robert Jordan, Bill Cosby, Jimmy
Carter, Jane Goodall and other contemporary authors of note. Perhaps sometime
it the future major martial arts writers will enjoy that distinction with
their own e-books. From the purely economical standpoint many publishers are convinced that
digital ventures such as e-books represent a broader expansive future in the
book business because of the ease of distribution they offer. By taking into account they have carefully rethought to advantages of
rapid publishing, instant distribution, lower publication costs, easier
updates, new forms of writing which take advantage of multimedia and
hyperlinks--all are smacked with bottom line profits. That in a nutshell is
enough to see why publishers are beginning to warm up to this new market. E-Books…Rivaling the
Internet or Trying to Create its Own Niche Market? As
previously mentioned, the Internet has proven to be one of the greatest
sources for selected forms of information, news and enjoyment. Not
withstanding the fact that virtually everything can be downloaded from the
Internet within the realm of legality, (or illegality for that matter),
content in its entirety such as books, movies and the likes are typically
proffered with an expense, fee or service charge attached to usage or
consumption of these products. You must remember that items like books, records,
movies, etc. costs money to produce and companies, being driven by financial
motivation—and to make a profit for the creation and distribution of a given
product—must realize monies (equated to mean profits) for their services or
products that are introduced and sold on-line. Some vendors will provide a
“sample” of their songs, movies or books before charging the consumer for the
entire venue of their product. That will probably never change in a world
where capitalism prevails.
So, I believe book publishers, as with most other media-based consortiums
will utilize the internet as a medium for continuing to market and bring
their products to the attention of the general public while also remaining an
excellent means in which to sell their products. The martial arts
distributors, publishers, and manufacturers are moving in tandem with this
trend but it has been a slow and uncertain path simply because many martial
arts educators do not have the means or wherewithal to create products that
exemplify their art or knowledge. Choosing Your
Price…Choosing your E-book Products
Today, there are Web sites emerging that can provide many fine examples
in the field mini-publishing. Short and long essays are available, as well as
short and long pieces of fiction are available on the Web available for a
"mini" that is usually priced comparable to the worth of the author
or the value of the content. Buy or
rent the service or product on the installment plan I like to call it.
Something that we’re all familiar with if we’ve purchased a high end product
like a car, house or major commodity. Publishers are cashing in on this same
concept. Of which I expected after they see that there is much more profits
to be mage on the installment plan. You see, the consumer is offered a choice
because he or she doesn't have to fork out $10, $20 or more just because a
short piece by a favorite writer exists among many other works in a large
volume. This is only one on many
scenarios that is presently being touted by the book, music, film and
publishing and distribution industry. Eventually, publishers of music and the
written word will be offering more mini-works and it wouldn’t surprise me
that sometime in the future that this trend finds its way into the martial
arts. Unfortunately many martial artists are not business savvy in the ways of
publishing and marketing their written materials. For one to explore the vast worldwide web
for martially related material they will immediately discover there are
literally tons of knowledge and well-written information out there but very
little has been exploited commercially because most martial webmasters have
just proffered it free of charge. Undoubtedly, sometime in the future that
will probably change when the martial arts community realizes that the
written word, as prevalent as it is presented on the Internet, makes
perfectly logical business sense when you stop to consider that the written
work is the mainstay of the electronic e-book industry. |