The author of this book is a human factors and usability scientist with IBM. He has been a developer of technical documents for IBM since 1980, and conducts usability research in the field. This book is geared towards authors of electronic books (e-books). It can serve as a guideline for design and information on the history and future of electronic publishing (ePublishing).
The book is divided into two parts. Part 1 (chapters 1 to 4) covers design data, guidelines, and recommendations for designing of electronic books. Part 2 (chapters 5 to 9) discusses metadata, digital rights, the publishing industry, and standards. The book concludes with some brief “how to” information for authors, a comprehensive glossary, a bibliography, and an index.
The preface briefly outlines the book’s two parts and the difference between the printed book and the CD version provided. The goal is to educate authors on which features of paper books to incorporate into e-books. Chapter 1 explains key factors propelling the growth of e-books. It includes discussion of both hardware and software. Key growth factors include increased resolution displayers, hardier and more compact batteries, and improved viewing and development software. Chapter 2 provides a development history and definition of the e-book. Interestingly, in early e-book usability studies, it was discovered that design should not mimic paper books; instead, it should incorporate features of the computer to provide an improved medium. Research is presented in chapter 2 that explains the structure and use of e-books. Chapter 3 provides usability data on e-books, and mentions the features that are most important to users. Each test presented is described in detail with objectives, methods, participants, scenario, and tasks, and concludes with a synopsis of what users want. Chapter 4 explores the design of the e-book through user questionnaires and ranking of features. Consideration of fonts and typefaces, and legal issues involving both, are presented.
Chapter 5 begins Part 2 of the book with a presentation of the term “metadata.” This is the descriptive information used in e-books to describe content (such as an index). But metadata is also information on terms and conditions, copyrights, and versions, and is intended for users, authors, publishers, and retailers. The chapter describes how authors use metadata, and where it can be found in different file formats. Metadata standards are described and defined, and examples given. It is interesting to note that e-books have no identification standard (like ISBN for paper books). Chapter 6 is a discussion of digital rights management (DRM), which includes protection via encryption and enforcement of usage rules. The chapter concludes with resources for additional information on DRM. Chapter 7 delves into a discussion about the effects of business-to-business relations on the publishing industry. Future publishing models are presented in detail, as well as the author-server-user model of self-publishing. The new proliferation of personal and subsidy publishing is explained, and examples are given.
Chapter 8 presents quotes from experts who are asked questions, including “Since e-books and readers have tried and failed before, why should they succeed now?” and “What will an e-book look like in five years?” Chapter 9 describes future developments in e-books and ePublishing. Topics include the design and benefits of e-paper, e-book textbooks, and e-book views, tours and guides. The concept of “books on demand” is presented, and the risks and benefits of these are explored. Appendix A sorts through e-book standards: their existence (or lack thereof) and structure. Appendix B provides lists of publishing organizations and industry groups, both useful to authors of e-books. Appendices C and D provide instructions on creating e-books with Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat, respectively.
The CD provided with the book begins with an easily distinguishable file, “start here.html,” which explains each directory on the disk. These include Adobe Acrobat Reader, the complete e-book version of the text in PDF format, and samples of the text in LIT, PDA, and REB formats. The Acrobat e-book contains full-color photos and is formatted well, with bookmarks to sections available on the left. Especially nice were the available audio clips, but there was no option to stop the audio once the file began to play (other than by closing the document).
I was not fond of the layout of the book in general; too many paragraphs are devoted to quotes of research. Also, chapter subheadings were often vague. The author’s position is that the paper book is not obsolete, and that its format should be carried over to the e-book. I agree that the familiar paper book format should be retained, and see a future trend toward more of a multimedia format, with the inclusion of audio and video.
