…most of the traditional process of book publishing is insulated from the outside world in a way that never allows anyone not from within to have direct contact with those on the inside. This system of buffers and padding has lead to an almost catastrophic denial of usability, and near complete impotence with issues related to customer satisfaction. If it works, it works. If not, too bad. Print another book and move on.
Portraits of an Industry in Flux: Digital publishing and UX | UX Magazine
Easily the best and most interesting article I’ve read on the emergence of ebooks and the changes taking place in the publishing industry. I could have chosen any number of meaningful, engaging quotes.
But the thing I take away most from this piece is something I’ve talked about here: the need for innovation.
Publishers are still taking baby steps, and that’s fine, but don’t just push ebooks out there without thinking about who is actually using them.
Also, get advice from people who know what they’re doing. The world is full of user experience and usability experts. These are skills that already exist.
Find the right people. Change the world with open eyes and ears. And get cracking.
