See what's on the kiwiana channel

The customised widget lets you search for videos uniquely ‘kiwi.’ Keywords used to limit the search in the DigitalNZ database were 'Kiwiana OR culture' to maximise the range of content. I decided to restrict the type of material to videos, so the widget mimics a youtube channel. I didn’t include images because many aren’t accompanied by adequate descriptions or explanations. Meanwhile, videos enhance the user experience by engaging with an audience on more levels than possible with pure text, visual, or audio. It’s like getting a taste of kiwi culture, touring New Zealand’s past and present without leaving the house.

The DigitalNZ database offers a wide range of quality New Zealand footage for entertainment and education purposes from trustworthy content providers (e.g. NZ OnScreen, the Ministry of Culture and Heritage, and Tourism New Zealand) which makes a good filter for a general audience, so little sally can watch too.

Kiwi and non-kiwi alike can enjoy the novelty of this widget as a treasure trove of what makes New Zealand so unique, it’s really a mixed bag of cultural identity. Kiwiana is made up of so many things by so many different people. Interpret, associate, and use the term ‘kiwi’ however you like--fruit, bird, person, idea or invention. As the kiwis like to say, ‘have a go!’ (i.e. try it out).

E-book reader specs and concepts

This short slide presentation summarises several important features to consider and compare when assessing e-reader capabilities. Technical aspects and functions of e-readers reveal complex implications for their use in various facets of society. Academia, libraries, the publishing industry, and the gamut of media consumers need to be aware of how e-books and e-readers are changing the way we read. For starters, understanding the core components of e-reader specifications will help current and prospective users familiarise themselves with this new medium for reading.

Feel free to add your input. All comments are welcome!

Fortune-teller predictions on the future of e-books

In 2060 the only authors left will be the e-readers themselves

After digital downloads and internet piracy closed the last book store, as they had the last music store, authors were left broke and hungry. While musicians gave their work away and survived through touring, authors were forced to abandon writing for practical employment. Lacking even rudimentary social skills, most became teachers or got jobs working for the government. Some gave up completely and suicide rates among authors tracked almost perfectly against eBook downloads.

Demand for new books grew and with no authors to write them software was developed to fill the hole. The software juxtaposed various old pieces of various old books already stored on e-readers to create new books. Every new book was an amalgam of books already written. Jay Gatsby joined the droogs of A Clockwork Orange and together they travelled west across Delillo’s Underworld in search of Kesey flying over the cuckoo’s nest. There was now literally, nothing new, but the possibilities were virtually infinite.

Does your e-Reader suffer from dyslexia?

On 19 July, Amazon's announcement that e-book sales surpassed hardcover sales for the past three consecutive months was a major milestone in the history of e-books. Digital reading is becoming increasingly popular. E-readers offer portability and access to large collections. They help manage and store an overwhelming amount of electronic information, but what are some of the side-effects of this rapidly spreading technolust for e-books? With any new technology numerous problems arise.

Agreeing on a universal e-book format is just one hot topic. The plethora of e-book formats has been referred to as the ‘Tower of eBabel.’ Makers of e-reader devices, e-publishers, and consumers are clashing in a conflict of interest over format standards. Many distributors in the e-book industry are using encrypted proprietary formats and strict Digital Rights Management (DRM) in an attempt to deter piracy and control their share of the market.

Developing software to circumvent this problem is one work-around, although not foolproof. Calibre, a free, open source e-book management tool converts formats, but still has limitations since conversion is not possible with DRM restrictions.

The variety of e-book formats currently on the market pose incompatibility issues and limit access to specific devices. For major players like the Kindle and iPad, brand loyalty doesn't seem to be a problem just yet. Consumer demand will be the ultimate judge. In the meantime, writers and e-publishers will have to conform to e-book formats required by their distributors.

One particular format called ePub is drawing much attention as an industry-wide standard supported by the International Digital Publishing Forum. The ePub format can be read on various platforms and devices. Plus, it uses the Adobe Content Server as an option for DRM. Sony and Barnes & Noble have adopted this format for their devices.

In an effort to tap into this expanding new market Google plans on partnering with independent bookstores to sell e-books. What will distinguish 'Google Editions' from competitors is that you can connect to your purchases through the web from any device. Google’s director of strategic partnerships, Tom Turvey, said in an interview with the New York Times, “I don’t think anyone who has bought an e-reader in the last several years has really intended to only buy their digital books from one provider for life.”

Acknowledging that e-book dyslexia exists and is a serious problem is the first step. Treatments have not been so successful, but Google may be onto something. Ultimately, the struggle to find better support for this ailment and a cure continues.