Finally eBook age seems to be here, what next?

Current publishing process has about 300 years of history with 20+ years of computerized publishing process. Procedures are set, rates are transparent, and partners identified. Suddenly all this needs to change and co-exist with increase in demand for digital content consumption. Educational Publishers are struggling to bridge process, people & business from conventional book publishing to digital publishing. eBooks are still considered to be glorified print matter (where print comes first). Most educational publishers feel adding digital flash cards, vocabularies, calculator, manipulative, quiz makes an enhanced eBook.

I feel This is still broadcast model of education. Net Generation (as described by Don Tapscott in Grown up Digital) does things differently. They prefer collaboration to broadcast, flexibility to rigid curriculum, customization & personalization to fixed design.

My reading is that the eBook age will soon transform from broadcast model of education to collaboration model.  

1. Teacher would like to contribute to eBook content. Include links, samples and other reference materials.
2. Student would like to personalize & customize eBook content. Ability to personalize the content based on reading ability, areas of interest & preferences.
3. Parents will have ability to pick & select content modules , customize learning paths independent of state/district standards
4. New Device makers will push the media to newer limits. 

eBook age is a much bigger shift then just providing content online. It has opened potentials for new marketplace & players. Traditional educational publishing marketplace as it stands today will cease to exist at an unprecedented pace.

Next I’ll write about digital content frameworks that will allow educational publishers to reduce time to market and protect Intellectual Property against what seems to be an age of device eruption.