What are enhanced ebooks?
A few years ago, ebooks started taking over. This past year, ebooks sold more than print books. But for the most part, those ebooks are simply digital versions of the print books that we all know and love. Much of what people are buying and reading on a Kindle resembles the old printed book with few, if any, changes.
Why enhanced ebooks? Why now?
Enter Enhanced Ebooks. Essentially, an enhanced ebook is an ebook that expands on the original printed work by adding images, video, hyperlinks, etc. to the content. This quick 2:00 minute video gives a good overview of the various features that enhanced ebooks add.
Why is the industry shifting toward enhancing the ebooks? Right now I think it's because we can. And because of the draw of experimentation and growth. It's too early to really know if there is a huge demand for enhanced ebooks. We're in the novelty stage, and authors and publishers who see an opportunity are forging ahead. Will readers buy them with the same enthusiasm? That remains to be seen.
Why is this happening now and not 5 years ago? Well, 5 years ago nobody would have been able to read an enhanced ebook, let alone create one. Because so many folks have purchased tablets like the iPad, there is growing market potential for enhanced ebooks. Tablets outsold basic ebook readers for the first time this year, so the number of people who are able to purchase and read an enhanced ebook is growing.
The trend of creating enhanced ebooks is growing, and the potential readership is growing in turn. The question that sticks with me is whether people will want these enhanced ebooks enough to justify the resources required to create them. Do readers want videos and images and links and extras with their books? Or do they just want a book made of words, perhaps with some illustration? Will it differ based on the kind of book, the audience, and the intended use of the book? Probably. I can imagine how-to books being great as enhanced ebooks, but not really classic novels.
What do you think about this trend?
Image source: Auswandern Malaysia via flickra