3rd Annual Electronic Book 2000 Conference and Show Changing the Fundamentals of Reading Proceedings

Published

September 1, 2000

Author(s)

V R. McCrary

Abstract

Think back to 1997, when there was hardly a mention of the concept of electronic books, or ebooks. Yes, the Internet and the Web had begun to take hold as a force to reshape the way we handle and disseminate information. And we kept abreast of these developments mainly through what we read: magazines, books, and newspapers. The fascination of the Web and the rush to have a presence on this dynamic platform overshadowed another phenomenon that was beginning to manifest itself in our lives: digital convergence. Digital convergence is the blending of two or more technologies, or subsystems, to form an integrated system that has unique functionality beyond the mere addition of its subcomponents. We are witness to this phenomenon as digital convergence starts to unfold in our every day lives: telephony and network becomes voice over IP; analog photography and microchips leads to digital photography; film, micro-mirror devices, and optical disc storage become digital cinema; and finally displays, software, and semiconductor storage become electronic books. What a difference three years has made!Since the world's first ebook conference was sponsored by NIST in 1998, the industry has grown enormously in size, interest, and expectations. The theme for this conference is changing the fundamentals of reading, but we could have more direct and left it at changing the fundamentals - period! At this year's conference, we featured more than 50 speakers to discuss how electronic books will change the way we read, publish, distribute, and disseminate information since Gutenberg printed his first book in the 1500s. Topics of major interest to be covered include:--Overview and New E-Book Technologies: New developments over the past year, what are the new products and services, and who are the new players;--E-Book Authors Forum: As an author, how do I get started, and what are the changing roles for authors, agents and publishers in this new medium for content;--E-Book Applications: Applications of electronic books, libraries, and enterprise-wide applications;--International Electronic Book Activities: Activities and offerings from global e-book authors and manufacturers;--E-Book and Government: A special track devoted to applications for electronic books in the Federal Government;--The Digital Divide and Accessibility: Addressing whether electronic books will narrow or widen the gap for those who do not have access to the Internet, as well as the latest in Braille reader technologies for electronic books;--Standards and Interoperability: Current status of hardware and software standards for electronic books.

Citation

- 6554

Report Number

6554

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Keywords

digital convergence, ebook, electronic book, hardware standards, software standards

Citation

Mccrary, V. (2000), 3rd Annual Electronic Book 2000 Conference and Show Changing the Fundamentals of Reading Proceedings, - 6554, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (Accessed April 25, 2024)