In a recent blog post, I read that only 3% of children's books are read on a screen, for a physical book has much more to offer, in terms of interactivity, to a child. But in the interview above, James Huggins says that he was at the London Book Fair to advertise Me Books, an interactive book app for children. He goes on to explain that this app includes books which are narrated by actors, such as Richard E Grant, while you can also record the voice-over yourself.
This gained my interest, for it seems that publishers are trying to encourage children to read more ebooks than physical books by introducing something that a physical book cannot offer, such as a voice over. However, I still have to wonder if Me Books will be so popular. Almost all of the time, young children get a adult to read them the story and so I think that a voice over would detract from this bonding time. Perhaps this app is aimed at slightly older audience, who can read themselves but just need the additional help.
Huggins finishes his interview by saying, "When it comes to adult books, where it is simply words on a page, I think that ebooks taking over from physical books is inevitable."
Ed Franklin, meanwhile, introduced the Booki, an interactive e-reader aimed at children between the ages of 2 - 6 years old. He explains that the e-reader is all about books and does not feature any type of gaming element, which I thought was interesting that he had to clarify. I suppose that it would be of some concern to parents that when a child turns to a screen instead of a book they may not be gaining the same amount of education from the experience.
Franklin says, "I think that digital publishing in the children's illustrated catogory will probably get to about 90% of all sales. The book itself, particularly the children's book, with its beautiful illustrations, will become more of a cherished object... In ten years time (books) will be hard-backed, beautifully printed... while I think that everything else will migrate to the digital platform."
Sarah Wright was there to explain about their new company, Higgles. They have developed technology that "breathes life into the printed word". By accessing a mobile phone app, you are able to see something else to the book that is invisible to the naked eye.
It explains on the Higgles website, "It looks like an ordinary book, but just hover your device over the page
and Cinderella pops up out of the storybook as a 3D hologram then runs
away from the castle, dropping her slipper as she goes. One tap of your finger, and her riches turn to rags, right in front of your eyes."
Wright goes on to say that this technology is not the end of the printed word. She explains, "We've used digital technology in a way that enhances the book." This gives the audience a reason to buy the physical book, while using digital technology - your mobile phone - to discover more from the printed pages.
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