Google seeks patent to add "triggered sounds" to e-books

[theducks]

Originally Posted by twobob

Errrrrrr..................

How can they try to patent this?

I have a Leappad read-along that does exactly this ?
:P

Maybe because the patent search did turn up a prior patent?
Your Leappad may not have thought to attempt a patent.

Or the patent is really on the 'system' (process) of delivering that content. (There are a lot of process boxes in those drawings)

[AlbertaCowboy]

Personally I hate the entire concept of "enhanced" books. I don't want my paper books singing to me! I even get irritated with musical birthday cards!

How much bigger would each book file be with unessesary audio or video files? A normal epub generally isn't much bigger than 2-3 MB. You start adding video and sound files into the mix, and all of a sudden you could be looking at a 200+ MB book.
In addition to the size of the files, I would imagine that battery life would be severely affected by playing sounds and video instead of straight text.

Not for me, thanks!

[twobob]

it would be the same size. they were talking about going off and getting sounds.

personally I think it is an abomination but meh. There is money in it right?

Dont be evil!!!! (unless there is a profit in it, then do w/e)

[Sabardeyn]

Strangely you all missed some very important points:

1. You're going to pay for the pleasure of reading a book that has been enhanced and, since it has a better mark-up, the standard version of the book will be removed from purchase. Expect ebook prices to increase 50%. All those musicians, sound effect specialists, naturalists, programmers, server techs, network techs, etc need to get paid. Note that I've only touched the edges of sound enhancements, wait until we get to the video documentary folks let alone re-enactment and Hollywood suddenly wanting a piece of the publishing world in a totally new manner. Just imagine... Gone With The Wind will be in Gone With The Wind! (But see #3 below)
2. What happens to your "reading experience" if/when the cost of serving these enhanced books exceeds income? What is the life expectancy of one of these books? Do you get to read it only 2, 5, 8, 12 times before the book "dies" and you're forced to purchase a new copy so serving costs (that is, all of #1 above) can be met? Or does the book just go OOP instead? Or do ebooks become a per view performance requiring payment for each time you want to read it?
3. Actors proved that they had a financial interest in each broadcast of their work. What will happen to all of the sound related folks from #1 above, if suddenly ebooks become a kind of "payment per read" situation? Isn't that rather like radio? Shouldn't these folks get a "broadcast fee" just like Hollywood is presently doing? And, about those Hollywood folks, if video clips are included in the books, is Google going to be required to make a payment to those actors (or however syndication payments are handled)?

Just some thoughts.

[QuantumIguana]

We could have an enhanced e-book, where instead of holding the book in your hand, it is projected on the screen. In addition, instead of reading it, you would listen to it, and you could have actors playing the roles. We could call that enhanced e-book a "movie".

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by forsooth

Only for children books. I hope.

Let all hope go
The history of internet repeats in ebooks.
Animations, advertising and now sounds.
We all know what comes next: "spank-the-monkey" banners.

BWAHAHAHA!

[twobob]

Zomg... dont give them ideas...

The day a contextual advert pops up in something I read, is the day I go postal.