An article in the NY Times focuses on a new biology textbook that will be released next year by the publishers of the journal Nature. It will be unlike other "e-versions" of textbooks (which are typically PDFs of the physical books) in that (a) it is expected that students will access the text via a tablet, smartphone, computer or *NEXT GREAT INFO APPLIANCE!!!!", (b) it will not just statically present information, but will also provide simulations and real-time demonstrations to coordinate with the text, and (c) may serve as the end of the textbook as we now know it (except, of course, for those books that would not provide a profit for such a format). Textbooks in mathematics and other areas are already in the works; see: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/business/online-textbooks-aim-to-make-science-leap-from-the-page.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha26
I suspect that someone is actively working on a similar version of an intro psych text as well as psych statistics textbooks. I assume that the abnormal/clinical textbook market has the promise of making really juicy profits but I have a harder time seeing how the dynamic aspects of presentation can be readily incorporated especially for a potentially science phobic audience. ;-) I do image that the sex and behavior textbooks will be quite interesting. ;-) ;-) -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=14942 or send a blank email to leave-14942-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
