Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyberman tM
It's somewhat funny how most of the replies to these topics feel VERY similar to the discussions regarding pBook vs. eBook.
In both cases the term "book" is defined and defended and must not be deviated from, because a "book" is only a "book" when it is exactly as a "book" should be.
Heavens forbid someone try to improve upon it, then it would immediately cease to be a book and become somthing so entirely different that it must be dismissed immediately.
As with everything, it can and will be misused. But at the same time, it can greatly enhance the experience. As has been said, non-fiction books are prime examples - like in the OP, a BIOGRAPHY about a musician - no doubt, adding video and gods forbid music would instantly ruin the experience of reading the book...
Still, perhaps a fiction author wants to add something more than just text? What if an author has a character talk about a specific music - would it really be bad if the reader had the option to listen to it, so he could better understand what's going on?
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My problem with so-called "enhanced" books is that all the people advocating them always seem to focus on the very things I don't want. If your "enhancement" is something I'm actively avoiding, then I'm not going to look kindly on the suggestion.
For example, most suggestions seem to revolve around adding video and sound to a book, but I read books because I don't want video or sound. I can see the benefits in some cases, but for the most part I don't want it. I much prefer reading a book to watching a documentary, and the more video and audio that's added, the further it shifts from one to the other.
The big disadvantage of audio and video for me is that it moves at its pace, not mine, and when I have to stop to do something else, I have to actively pause it, unlike text where I can stop reading and come back to it more easily. Then there's the issue that we like to read in bed, and if we're both reading "enhanced" ebooks then our respective soundtracks might conflict. For me, silence is a selling point.
You also bring up the valid point that people often see improvement as change, and fight it for that very reason. Sometimes they're wrong, sometimes the change is an improvement, but other times it does change the very nature of what you're discussing, and that isn't always a good thing.
Focus on things that I can interact with at my own pace, preferably without sound, and I'm all over it. Put me into listen/watch mode then I'm no longer reading, and the more time I'm doing something else, the less I'm interested in the book.