Readers ready for digital

By on November 14, 2010 in Digital Publishing, eBooks and eReaders

A new international study by Bain and Company suggests that by 2015 ebooks will represent up to 25% of the global book market and that 15-20% of the global population will own a digital reading device.

The study researched consumers in France, Germany, Japan, Korea, the UK and the US to explore how digital devices were changing reading behavours.

The report suggests that up to 90% of respondents stated they were unwilling to pay for online news, with respondents from France being the least likely to pay.   Those who owned a digital device claimed they were reading more books as a direct result.

Firms failing to make websites ‘mobile friendly’

By on November 11, 2010 in Mobile Devices

53% of the SMEs contacted in research undertaken by 1and1.co.uk had never checked the functionality of their websites on mobile devices.   It seems that corporate websites are lagging behind their potential customers in recognising the increased popularity of mobile access.

Summarising the findings of the research, Hostsearch.com reports that Spanish firms are most likely to have checked their websites for mobile access; French firms are most likely to have worked on website optimisation; and German firms were least convinced about the value of mobile-friendly websites.

An invitation to share book reviews

By on November 8, 2010 in Professional Development

Harvard Business Review said it presented ‘one of the breakthrough ideas for 2010′.  The book Hacking Work is subtitled ‘breaking stupid rules for smart results’.  The book suggests that breaking ‘silly edicts’ can lead to business success.

If you have read this book, (or another book that has really inspired you at work) please consider writing a review for other Information Today, Europe readers.

Please let us know if you are interested.

Bye bye BlackBerry?

By on November 8, 2010 in Mobile Devices

It seems that BlackBerry could be losing its position as the corporate smartphone of choice. 

Bloomberg reports that large corporates, including Bank of America and Citigroup, are considering adding the iPhone to the mix of tools available to staff.  A key driver seems to come from individuals who have their own iPhone and want to use one at work. 

Research by Nielsen, cited by Bloomberg, backs this up.  About 42% of BlackBerry users say they want to stick with the brand when they buy a new phone but for iPhone users the rate increases to 89%.

Building Europe’s digital economy

By on November 8, 2010 in Public Policy

The European Commission’s Digital Agenda is one strand of its Europe 2020 Strategy.

Over the last 15 years, over half of Europe’s productivity growth has been ICT driven.  But if Europe is to fully exploit the benefits of the digital economy, it must address the seven key priority areas identified in the Commission’s Digital Agenda.

A new Single Market to deliver the benefits of the digital era

  • Simplification of copyright clearance, copyright management and cross border licensing. 
  • Better access to pan European telecoms and digital services and content.

 Improve ICT standard-setting and interoperability

  • Interoperability will encourage creation and innovation

Enhance trust and security

  • Coordinated approaches to both data security breaches and data projection legislation

Increase Europeans’ access to fast and ultra fast internet

  • Very fast internet is essential for the economic growth.  The Commission will explore how to attract investment in broadband

Boost cutting-edge research and innovation in ICT

  • Increased investment in ICT R&D to ensure our best ideas reach the market.

Empower all Europeans with digital skills and accessible online services

  • Everyone should be able to participate in the digital life

Unleash the potential of ICT to benefit society

  • Online access to medial records
  • Energy saving 
  • Support af aging populations

Making the digital agenda a reality is a key priority.  The documents and background information to the Digital Agenda can be found on the Commission’s website.

An information revolution

By on October 27, 2010 in Public Policy

If patients and others are to make informed decisions, they need access to appropriate and accurate information.  As part of the ‘putting patients first’ agenda, the UK’s coalition government has published a consultation document which emphasises the importance of information in delivering the health and social care agenda.   The ‘Information Revolution’ paper covers the way in which information is collected, analysed and shared.  Responses are invited until early 2011.

Building audiences through digital collections

By on October 25, 2010 in Digital Publishing

On 22nd October 2010 listeners to BBC Radio’s History of the World in a 100 Objects series discovered the final item chosen by the Museum’s Director to bring the collection up to date. 

The ‘100 objects’ series has been a multimedia success – a radio programme, an illustrated book of the series, television tie-in programmes including one for children – all supported by web content and podcasting.  A key strength of the programme has been that you can view the items being described online (although in fact such is the power of the spoken word that seeing the images is not always necessary).

The digitisation of collections seeks to broaden access to, and build new audiences for, cultural collections of all kinds.   In the digital space, new and imaginative virtual collections can be created, offering new interpretations and building audience engagement.

This is the key driver behind Europeana.eu funded by the European Commission.  One of its latest online exhibitions Reading Europe: European culture through the book, features 1000 rare and fascinating books chosen by the curators of national libraries.  The collection may be browsed by timeline, country of origin, language and subject area.

Mobile marketing

By on October 21, 2010 in Events, Management, Mobile Devices

Nancy Dowd, presenting at Internet Librarian International on behalf of New Jersey Public Libraries, explained how mobile technology was used simply and effectively to  engage with hard to reach audiences.   

Working initially with an external partner, the service used SMS to segment and target audiences, including Spanish speaking parents and teens.  Nancy is the Director of Marketing and Communications for New Jersey Public Libraries and publishes a blog that covers marketing trends for librarians and others.

Keeping up to date

By on October 18, 2010 in Digital Publishing, Events, Mobile Devices, Post, Social Media, Web Technology & The Cloud

Phil Bradley’s presentation at Internet Librarian International had audience members in a tweeting and note taking frenzy.  He explained how he uses a range of tools to help him keep up with new technologies and how he uses social networking tools to share his knowledge and insight with his networks.

He then went on to share his latest discoveries, highlighting tools that can help us perform a range of tasks from file conversion; checking website availability; password security checking; wordcloud generation and much more.  Phil has been sharing his presentations via Slideshare since 2006.  This presentation (‘What Phil has found’) is, of course, available there too.

SLA Europe at Internet Librarian International

By on October 15, 2010 in Information and Publishing Industry, Post, Professional Development

After a full day on Wednesday, 13 October, conference delegates joined their SLA Europe colleagues for a drinks reception, sponsored by Infotrieve.

Some 60 people gathered for an evening of conversation about libraries, the information marketplace and future technologies.  Here’s hoping SLA Europe will do the reception again next year.