Two announcements from earlier this week suggest that digital reading is poised to reach a wider audience now that the technology is embracing a wider spectrum of platforms and applications.
Northwest Missouri State University recently gave a progress report on its electronic textbook pilot project in cooperation with publisher McGraw-Hill. The university is hoping to launch an all-electronic textbook program for students beginning as soon as the fall semester.
What’s more, Amazon.com has just unleashed a new digital reading application for the iPhone and the iPod touch, which Gartner Research Vice President Van Baker thinks is a very smart move.
“For the average consumer that goes to work in the morning and spends their evenings at home, the Kindle offers minimal perceived value over paper,” Baker said. “There are roughly 18 million iPhone users, and some percentage of them will at least want to try reading an e-book on the phone.”
Evaluating Displays
Digital books also can be read on desktop PCs, laptops and even low-cost netbooks. Sony already offers a software download that lets computer users purchase and read any title in Sony’s current library of electronic books without purchasing a Sony Reader.
The requirements for Sony’s software reader are relatively modest. The program for Windows Vista and XP computing devices requires an 800-MHz processor or better, 20MB of free hard disk or solid-state storage capacity, an Internet connection, and either 128MB (for XP) or 512MB (for Vista) of RAM.
Many commuters are likely to appreciate the ability to read a chapter or two of a book while traveling to and from offices on a bus, train or airplane without having to purchase a hardware reader. Moreover, the content on the screen of a smartphone or netbook can be read in low-light environments, or even in the dark.
However, consumers have clearly said they…