unclehan Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 (edited) How many of you think textbooks are too heavy? Do you go to lockers often? Are there times you have to carry 30 lb of textbooks because you had homeworks for all your classes? Do you ever get backpains? Well there are 2 options that publishers are thinking about in making textbooks easier to carry (lighter). 1) Give the textbook separate "partitions" that students can remove and reinsert with a zipper (at the spine). This way, students can take only the relevant section since a student never need a complete textbook at any time. (A class can spend weeks on a single chapter) Each partion is like a magazine and can be put into a student's folder and be used just like a regular book. Later, it can be reinserted easily once a whole book is needed. (for selling, borrowing, studying for finals..etc) For example, you can separate a 700 page book into 5 sections and each section is bound to the spine with a tiny inconspicuous zipper that can be used very easily (or none at all,and still be like a regular textbook). Students can just put a whole chapter into their folder and leave the rest of book home and still be able to participate in class, or do homework in school, or study with friends. 2) Make a electronic version e-book, sort of like PDAs that allow textbooks to be downloaded and be read on a screen. New technology allows the screen to be "paper like" so it's easy on the eye. Student can turn pages by pressing "next page" buttons. There is a advantage since students can put many textbooks into the device. Device cost $200 at first but digital textbooks may be 20% cheaper than regular textbooks since there is no printing and distribution. Advantages of option 1. (real book) : simplicity, robustness, easy of use, no need to worry about battery or data lose, more familiarity, tangible book in your hand Disadvantages of option 1. : real books will be more expensive than e books since you need manufacturing and distribution. Advantages of option 2 (e book): can put multiple textbook into the device, newer technology allow the screen to be easy on the eye (like paper) e-textbooks are cheaper. Disadvantages of option 2: not as "familiar" as a real book, need batteries, not tangible, can't "flip" pages, could be lost or stolen, digital data not as reliable as printed page, could be destroyed if dropped/bumped/wetted, e book reader device will cost $200 or $ 300, not as simple as a real book. Your opinion is appreciated. Please say which option you prefer. Thanks. Edited January 11, 2006 by unclehan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger.Girl Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 "ebooks" will be the future I think for K-12 there will be like PDF files for books and schools will lend out very cheap notebooks with a specalized operating system specifically for homework and veiwing the "PDFs" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psybapunk Posted January 11, 2006 Share Posted January 11, 2006 at the high school I went to we had no lockers. I just stopped carrying around books whatsoever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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