Daily Thoughts 04/28/2012

Portrait of Albertus Seba (1665-1736), Dutch pharmacist, collector of zoological and other natural subjects and editor of a illustrated work of reference about his collection. by Jacobus Houbraken, 1731

Daily Thoughts 04/28/2012

I finished reading Infoquake last night.  It has extensive appendixes including a future history timeline.  I rather liked this because it showed that the author thought out how the future might look.

I did not do a whole lot today.  I relaxed mostly.  I am rethinking what I am doing.  It is hard to think about the things which I have to take the time to learn.

I am thinking about the meaning of the latest results from Amazon which are focused on digital products like apps, e-books, e-readers, and other digital content.

Amazon Soars Digital Sales Boost Margins
http://news.yahoo.com/amazon-soars-digital-sales-boost-margins-123205109--sector.html;_ylt=A2KLOzFZqpxP2AYAhm7QtDMD

There is another thing which is happening very quickly.  There is a new release of HTML coming out called HTML 5 which allows easy creation of book apps not just for tablets, but also for PCs, some people might quibble with this and call them widgets, but it will suddenly be far easier to make enhanced e-books for personal computesr which are usable in internet browsers. HTML 5 will be very compatible with the EPUB 3 format.  Readium Concept E-reader for HTML 5 and EPUB 3 Unveiled
http://goodereader.com/blog/e-book-news/readium-concept-ereader-for-html5-and-epub-3-unveiled/


The pace of change is very hard to keep up with and I am not surprised that neither traditional publishers or even libraries are quite prepared for the changing world of e-books and enhanced e-books.  The changes are pure software, programming, and technology.


Web Bits

Out of 173 Majors Library Science has the Fourth Highest Unemployment Rate.
http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2011/11/opinion/lj-insider/out-of-173-majors-library-science-reportedly-has-fourth-highest-unemployment-rate/
This was shown in November when the full impact of tablets and other technological change had not started appearing in January.    The part that seems to be still doing alright is that part that is technically focused right now.  Things are changing incredibly fast.  I think the unemployment rate could have gone above the 15% listed in the article.  I think it is probably also true of the publishing industry right now.  Technology companies are fast moving into the traditional publishing arena.