Rumor has it that Apple is planning to hold a media event in New York later this month. While the meeting itself has not officially been confirmed, many are speculating on what will be announced/discussed. One theme that is continually being floated around by Cult of Mac and others it that this will be a publishing/book-focused event wherein Apple revolutionizes education or publishing at large or both.
As a teacher, I would love to see digital, app-esque textbooks take the education world by storm. The more information—and the more different types of information—that the student can have to learn from, the better. Pictures in textbooks often help to highlight the written content, but how cool and beneficial would it be if the students could explore the images via the iPad’s multi-touch UI, making these side elements into vital parts of the content?
As a reader/consumer, I would love to see iBooks become more useful. I have a Kindle, and I love it, despite a few design flaws that would have never made it past Apple’s product testing phase. In a year of owning both a Kindle and an iPhone 4, I have amassed a Kindle library of between two and three hundred books.
I have zero iBooks: there’s just no appeal.
What about the Church? How would an Apple-led, iPad-fueled textbook revolution help or hurt the Church?
Would it make Christian schools more feasible?
How about home education or small, denominational seminaries and ministry training schools?
Would this improve education or simply increase costs?
Bethany Hader says
I, for one, am hoping that I can get some of my textbooks for seminary in Kindle form when I go to seminary next year. It would save so much money and space!
Phil Schneider says
I could not agree more! Last semester, I purchased a book for my class in the Kindle format. It made it so much easier! Nothing like carrying a 800-page book on a pocket-sized device!
Phil Schneider says
Looks like the rumors are true! The event is schedule for January 19, 10:00am ET. You can get more information and a look at the actual media invite at ZDNet or a number of other tech sites (MacWorld, PC World).
http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/big-apple-event-to-feature-digital-textbooks-rumor/12002