The current technology I have chosen is eBooks and eReaders. The Kindle, Nook, and iPad are the leaders in eReaders right now with eBook selections from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and free (or low cost) sites like SmashWords (which carries independents). In higher education, where tuition and book prices have skyrocketed in the last decade, eBooks and eReaders are emerging as a low cost and greener alternative to traditional print textbooks. More significant, though, is the ability to update eBooks quicker, more efficiently, and cheaper.
Despite its abilities to meet certain needs in society, there are drawbacks to both eBooks and eReaders.
For eBooks, the sheer number of books in print makes it impossible to have all books in digital format.
Older texts so no always format well in eReaders and rarely have a searchable table of contents.
Sites like Project Gutenberg (
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page) and Bartleby (
http://www.bartleby.com/) provide eTexts that do not have to be read with an eReader.
eReaders are faced with their own challenges.
Arizona State University piloted eReaders but had to remove them because of ADA requirements.
The blog Edudemic notes that the problem many institutions run into is the text to speech function on eReaders is still emerging (see the blog at
http://edudemic.com/2010/06/government-requiring-schools-to-use-blind-friendly-gadgets/).
The limited functionality of text to speech is perhaps the greatest obstacle eReaders face.
Both eBooks and eReaders have benefits. For instance, many eBooks are offered free from the three big name book sellers. Older texts can also be found on Bartleby and Project Gutenberg. Both Kindle and Nook offer free readers for computer. The free eBooks and ability to reader form sites or on the computer lessens the price of books. The three top eReaders (Kindle, Nook, iPad) have also come down in price as second and third generation models have come on the market. The lightweight nature of the eReader replaces the need to carry around a heavy backpack of books. In addition the eReader is a greener choice.
I am a huge fan of eBooks and eReaders. Last term, I actually used my computer to read Dewey electronically because I could not find my print copy. The ease of highlighting on the Kindle computer app was easy and I was able to search. The eBook was comparable in price to the print version. I find, though, that I prefer print version for note taking and highlighting. My pleasure reading is done on the Kindle though.
The eReader and eBooks can be improved. For instance, search functions and tabbing should be easier to use. This would increase the usability for higher education use. Decreasing textbook prices for eBooks to make them competitive with print used books is another improvement. The market for eReaders is competitive. In terms of price, this benefits higher education. I think that the competitive nature keeps the three main devices affordable and up to date as far as technology.
Here is a picture of the Kindle
The Kindle website:
Here is a picture of the Nook
The Nook website:
Here is a picture of the iPad
The iBook website (this can also be accessed through iTunes)
