Could this be the future of reading e-books?

[TadW]

Here is the link to a great video of how we might perceive e-books in the near future...

http://www.editis.com/pages_html/video_possible02.htm

[Nate the great]

The ebook reader hardware? probably less than 5 years, less than 10 definitely.

the computer screen? It will be available in less than 5 years, but not widely used because it's so different from a mouse.

The bookstore? Not in a million years in the US. None of the big chains will invest the capital needed to accomplish it. It would take an independent startup.

[JSWolf]

I disagree on the ebook reader. I think it'll be more then 5 years for something like that.

The computer screen we could do now if we wanted.

The bookstore, not until after the ebook hardware is there and not until it takes off enough to make it feasable.

[RWood]

The computer screen is here now from the MIT Labs with sensors on the back of existing LCD screens. As Jon said, the eReader hardware is perhaps less than 5 years away. The biggest problem is the software and ebooks. Assuming that there is a standard or set of supportable standards then the problem beyond getting bookstores to support the new technology (like music stores and computer stores before that were going to have download on demand and zero inventory) is the establishment of ownership of the ebooks if the eReader is stolen, lost, or damaged/failed.

With a paper book it is a slight problem if it is stolen but the eReaders contain hundreds of dollars worth of ebooks. Today we download to the computer and from there to the eReader. If the film method is employed, there is no backup copy of the ebook. Lose it and you lose all.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

I particularly liked the idea of being able to visit the bookstore, see the print version of the book, and use its barcode to download the e-book. But although we could probably do that today, getting the publishers to prepare all of their legacy print material to be made available for e-book downloading will probably take over a decade, if ever. Within 10 years, however, I can see them doing that with all new books.

The reader's operation doesn't seem too far beyond present technology. Though the interactivity was pretty intense, I don't think it's beyond present markup languages to accomplish. The reader itself was pretty svelte, and of course, who knows about the screen. Since I don't speak French, I have no idea if the script referred to sharing files, storage systems, or replacing broken or damaged readers. But I think hardware like that is beyond 5 years away.

I think that, when people start habitually carrying entire libraries of books with them on their readers, a reliable backup system will be devised out of demand and sheer necessity. Absolutely automatic, perhaps a wireless sync when you return home, and maybe even sent by internet to a safe location (like your ISP's allocated webspace) in case your home is destroyed, or you need access away from home. Perhaps all that will be needed is a verified list of titles owned, allowing you to re-download them if lost or stolen. Insurance companies would likely provide a way to keep track of e-titles owned in case of loss.

[yvanleterrible]

Good movie.

You guys have added all the solutions to the possible issues. Now Who will be the developpers of this fantastic suite of devices and applications?

Main point is that I want one now!!!

[Madam Broshkina]

You guys have added all the solutions to the possible issues. Now Who will be the developpers of this fantastic suite fo devices and applications?

My guess would be Apple. They really know how to design some nice products. Of course the initial price would probably be too expensive.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

For an initial investment of $20 million, I'll be glad to get things started...

[yvanleterrible]

For that price, we have all the talent here to build this thing!

[nekokami]

Hm... wouldn't it be awfully expensive to print the paper books if they were only going to be used as store demos? If everyone has these thin convenient eReaders with the wonder screens, why bother printing the demos at all?

Oh, and I think the author needs to learn how to pay attention to his sweetheart while on holiday.

[yvanleterrible]

There will always be unconditional dedicated paper lovers. In a way, a paper book is a good demo for fast perusing, and there are printing processes that can cater to smaller production runs; around 100. That outlook is perfectly viable if you factor that there are hundreds of book stores.
As for price concerns, there are record stores with a cd player and headphones for every new demo (about 50 per store)and they seem to do well. I don't picture it to be that expensive.

[nekokami]

I think burning a CD is probably less expensive than printing a book, especially in color on gloss paper in a large format, but I see your point.

[JSWolf]

The reason the book is pronted is so you can see the book before making your selection. It's a lot easer to look at a dead tree book then it is to look at an ebook when browsing.

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by nekokami

Hm... wouldn't it be awfully expensive to print the paper books if they were only going to be used as store demos? If everyone has these thin convenient eReaders with the wonder screens, why bother printing the demos at all?

Why put a new car in every dealer's lot? So the customer can get a good look at it, sit in it, kick the tires, etc. As a promotional device, a printed book is a good value (though, if used strictly as a promotional device, a fairly detailed brochure might do just as well). It's also a lot easier to standardize printing costs when printing a limited number of promotional copies only, as opposed to guessing how many books need to be printed for sales.

[nekokami]

But if you put new cars in the dealer's lot, but then sell them driving simulation software, is that really the same?

I would think there would be a number of kiosks and a bunch of sample reader devices keyed to the store so you could see what you're really getting, at least once the readers become ubiquitous.

The idea in this movie makes sense if the readers are just becoming available, though.