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Old 09-17-2014, 07:21 PM   #21
eschwartz
Ex-Helpdesk Junkie
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BetterRed View Post
EPUB3 is gaining traction in education, in particular for teaching children with autism and other disabilities. AFAIK Apple has very little to do with the development of such material.

Dismissing multi-media teaching material is reminiscent of earlier objections to the printing press, and I can't help but think of the medieval attitudes of certain groups towards education for the masses, even today.

BR
There is nothing wrong with that. EPUB3 for education is an amazing thing, and I wish it had been around for me in elementary school.

It is just I seem to remember that the IDPF spent way too much time pandering to Apple's interest in the next extra-flashy thing instead of introducing standards of greater use to digital publishing in general. Like clarifying the current free-for-all of standards.

The fact that educational materials including methods for teaching autistic children (something I in particular have great sympathy for) is the only good thing that has come of it. And that wasn't particularly their goal, was it -- so they (IDPF) don't get any goodwill from me for doing good by accident.

At the end of the day, it is indisputable that most ebooks do not need video or audio. They should focus on standardizing the so-called standards first.
The IDPF is not an institution for advancing the art of digital publishing for education, they are an institution for advancing the art of digital publishing in general; as such, their job is to focus on what serves the greatest utility.
I can appreciate the gains for educational purposes while still thinking the IDPF has become distracted from their purpose.
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