Back in January Apple launched this new education initiative today called iBooks Author. The iBooks Author application looks exciting and I can’t wait until I start my new job and get to play with the iBooks 2 ecosystem. Not just because it’s got people really talking and thinking about education, but because it finally puts a powerful tool into everyone’s hands and says “show me what you can do with this”. Because it’s not your typical e-book system, and allows a lot of interactivity features, I know I can see myself writing a whole swag of different types of books like;
1. Choose Your Own Adventure. I loved these books when I was a kid. Books where you can select which path the story should take, making decisions so you’re more involved in the narrative. Previously, we did this by conditionally turning to one page or another.
2. Tutorial based books. Since the iBooks 2 format allows embedding of HTML 5 code, tutorial material can include actual working examples in each chapter.
3. My Wedding album. Photos, guestbook messages and even videos can be included in a virtual coffee-table book for everyone to enjoy, not just those who paid for a copy of the DVD from the videographer.
4. My portfolio. An interactive portfolio, showing my work in the most effective way, complete with contact information and links to my online presence (or web portfolio pieces). For iOS developers, particularly, this would be powerful marketing.
5. My family history. Genealogy fans can include the old home videos, scanned photographs etc.
6. Band profiles. Since Kay does a lot with various bands, this could have History, trivia, music, live performance videos, photos and interviews.
7. Instruction manuals. Like build your Lego kit, assemble your Ikea furniture, or convert Optimus Prime from a truck into a robot. Run through the process step by step, seeing exactly how everything moves and goes together. Even user guides for software or hardware, or videogame strategy guides.
8. Scavenger/Treasure hunts. I am doing a scavenger hunt for my bucks party and I am informed that HTML 5 widgets can (with permission) access your current location from within a book. Imagine the possibilities of this technology.
9. Client proposals. I am definately wrapping up my pitches in book format, with interactive visuals, estimates, timelines, contact information and a profile of my staff etc.
Anyone else think of anything cool to use this format for? Let me know.
Campbell Craig 