I posed a question to my LinkedIn group last week:
I am an researching a project and wondered if anyone is using an e-book reader in a teaching or learning application?
I am particularly interested in use in a writers program. We have an active writing program that between drafts and distribution to readers generates a lot of paper and wear on printers and photocopiers. The population is very mobile, which makes use of a computer for reading difficult.
I have seen mentions of posing questions on LinkedIn as a good way to tap into expertise in your LinkedIn network, so I though I’d give it a try. And I got some helpful responses. In summary the short answer is no, no one is doing this. Matt Mullenweg uses the Kindle and loves it. Someone else uses the Sony eReader and likes that. One person suggested setting up something employing Adobe Acrobat (and actually linked with Acrobat.com you could get some helpful functionality, but too wedded to comptuers and internet for our use.) I did get an introduction to a Sun center of excellence — I haven’t contacted the professor in charge yet, but it looks promising. And someone turned me on to the Plastic Logic flexible reader — not in commercial production yet, but very cool looking.
So overall helpful response. My ‘read’ at the moment is that there are some really interesting technologies right around the corner — color displays, flexible touch-sensitive screens, etc. It is still a little early yet, but I think over the next three years things will mature and this technology will become much more widely used. Something to watch and run small pilots with for now, not quite ready for prime time yet.
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Randall Rode's online home for thoughts, notes, and experiments with a wide range of technology topics. Visit the about page for info on my recent projects and professional background. I welcome your comments!
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