1. ELECTRINIC BOOKS
Topics to be covered:
Introduction
Definition
History
Features
Advantages
Disadvantages
Types
Examples
Conclusion
Introduction:
„Electronic book‟ (E-Book) a term coined by Van Dam of Brown University during the 1960s, is
very popular today. E-Book is nothing but a book in electronic form. But, e-book differs from a
book in print as it requires some kind of electronic device to read. One can download thousand of
free e-books from the Internet.
Definition :
The term “e-book” stands for “Electronic Book”. It is exactly the same as a regular book;
however e-books can be read on your PC and are usually delivered via email. An electronic book
or e-book, is the presentation of electronic files in digital displays. The World Wide Web
contains a huge quantity and variety of electronic text forms. Increasingly, though an e-book is
becoming are precisely defined in terms of text that can be read via the use of e-book software
and hardware.
Though e-books are now becoming very popular in developing countries, the development of
e-books began in the 1960s.
According to what is .techtarget. Com, an e-book is an electronic version of a traditional print
book that can be read by using a personal computer or by using an e-book reader.
History :
The electronic book (e-book) was born in 1971, with the first steps of Project Gutenberg,
a digital library for books from public domain. It is nearly 40 years old already. From 1994
onwards, the internet quickly spread worldwide. It created its own space as a new medium.to get
information, access documents, broaden our knowledge and communicate across borders and
languages. Book sellers began selling book online within and outside their home country,
offering experts on their websites.
2. Features :
1. Mobility- Availability of e-books anywhere and anytime, there is no need to store it.
2. E-book can be accessed indefinitely without going out of print.
3. For ability and storage- An e-book occupies less space in comparison to print book.
4. Language accessibility- Transform one language to other language is possible.
5. Type Faces- Change of size of text and enlarge of type font is possible.
6. Sound E-book which allows listening instead of reading a book.
7. It should allow underlining, mark, highlight the text, allows continuously reading.
8. Cost- E-book reader can be expensive but actual e-book is not expensive. A reader can
store 1000s of books.
9. Distribution- It is easier & cheaper to distribute e-book.
10. Environmental concern- paper is saved, ink is not consumed. From library perspective, E-
book is never lost, misplacement, no misuse.
Advantages :
For readers, e-books have those benefits.
They‟re cheaper.
They‟re quick to download.
They take very little computer space to store.
They‟re easy to navigate when looking for particular information.
They can be printed if necessary.
If one likes the e-book, can buy the moac expensive printed version.
For authors, e-book have those benefits.
They‟re cheaper to publish.
The royalties are higher.
Sales and marketing are Internet based, which is always cheaper.
They‟re easier to distribute.
International distribution is much easier and more accessible than for printed books.
One can test the market before investing in an expensive print run.
3. Some other benefits are.
24 Hours, 7 Weeks and 365 Days access ensures enhanced availability.
Multimedia resources provided such as picture, video, audio.
Availability via Intranet.
Saving shelf space in the libraries.
Keyword searching provided.
E-book cannot be damaged, lost or stolen.
Multiple accesses can be provided.
Disadvantages :
Cost of hardware or e-book readers is high.
Problems with printing a downloading.
People may dislike reading text on computers.
Lack of awareness of software/hardware.
E-books might be hacked, copied or distributed without the author‟s or publisher‟s
permission.
A major worry of reading form an e-book reader could hurt the eyes.
Types :
There are four types of E-books.
1. Downloadable e-books-
Contents are available on the internet for downloading to the user‟s PC; No special reading
device is required.
2. Dedicated e-book readers –
Contents are downloaded to a dedicated hardware device with a high quality screen and
special capabilities for book reading.
3. Print-on-demand books –
Contents are stored in a system connected to a high speed; high quality printer and bound
copies are produced on demand.
4. Web- accessible e-book –
Published on the providers web site and may be accessed for a free or purchase the books
to receive in definite access.
4. According to Crawford there are also number of types of books.
5. Proprietary e-book devices.
6. Open e-books.
7. Free books or public domain e-books.
8. Instabooks.
Examples :
1. Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictonary or Encyclopaedia by A.S. Hornbyh.
(http://www.mobipocket.com)
This is easier to use and includes links within entries to help the user more
to the right place quickly.
2. Darkstar : The Java Game Server by Brendan Burns.
(http://oreilly.com)
This is among the innumerable gaming e-books available in the virtual
Library of downloadable delights.
5. Best Sites free e-books to download.
Free E-books.net (www.free-ebooks.net)
Get Free EBooks (www.getfreebooks.com)
Free Tech Books (www.freetechbooks.com)
Online Free E books .net (www.onlinefreeebooks.net)
Snipfiles (www.snipfiles.com)
E Books Directory (www.e-booksdirectory.com)
E-book Readers :
E-book reader, also called an e-book device or e-reader. An e-book reader is a portable electronic
device that is designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital books and periodicals. E-book
readers are similar in form to a tablet computer. A tablet computer typically has a faster screen
capable of higher refresh rates which makes them more suitable for interaction. The main
advantages of e-book readers are better readability of their screens especially in bright sunlight
and longer battery life.
E-book Reader Examples :
Company Model
Amazon Kindle, Kindle 2, Kindle 3, etc.
Apple Ipad
Barnes & Noble Nook
Samsung Papyrus
Sony Pocket Reader Edition PRS - 300
Kobo Inc. Kobo
PocketBook Pocket Book Pro 602
6. Amazon Kindle
The kindle, a portable e-book reader developed by Amazon and launched in 2007.
It was created by the net‟s largest bookseller, Amazon.com.
Kindle is a thin, lightweight, electronic reading device that you can take anywhere
and download your favorite book, newspaper, or magazine
You can download from a library of over 300,000 books, as well as many top newspapers,
magazines, and even blogs.
The kindle screen simulates paper, and
you can read it even in bright sunlight with no glare whatsoever.
It also costs much less to download a book to the kindle than to buy the book in a store.
Sony
Sony was first to market in 2005 with its e-book reader.
Sony sells e-books for the Reader from the Sony e-Book Library store in the US, UK, Japan, Germany,
Austria, Canada and it will be coming to France.
There have been ten models to date.
Hold effortlessly in one hand.
Conclusion:
E- Book is a new concept here whch is already popular in the West. The present situation is
growing and our future of e books is bright. The cost of readers will also come down. E books
never go out of stock and its supply chain is very efficient.
References
Singh, M. (2012). Seminar paper on Trends in Digital Library Management. SHPT
School of Library School, Churchgate.
E-Book (2012). Retrieved July 10, 2012 , from http://en.wikipeadia.org/wiki/e-book.
e-book (2012). Retrieved July 13, 2012, from
http://www.scribd.com/doc/78497987/eBook-ppt
Sony Reader (2012). Retrieved July 14, 2012, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Reader
Amazon Kindle (2012). Retrieved July 16, 2012, from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle