Shift Learning

With the recent launches of Amazon’s Kindle DX and Apple’s iPad, there is a lot of buzz about eReaders.

But how will they affect revenue in the educational publishing business?

Amazon’s Kindle DX has a larger screen, specifically aimed at the educational market, newspapers and magazines. Amazon is marketing to the education sector and actively pursuing pilot projects in higher education. Meanwhile Apple, with the iPad, is also looking to reestablish themselves as a force in the learning market. The rumoured iUniversity and iTunes U are two of the initiatives that show their renewed interest. 

While it is important for educational publishers to stay abreast of these developments, we suggest that eReaders will not be a huge sales opportunity in the short term. They are expensive, do not support standards and are limited in functionality. 

The devices do not solve any fundamental problems for the customer, which is usually the key to widespread adoption of a new technology. eReaders do not deliver a better service than the standard tools of a student, a laptop and books. In fact, a user must overcome problems to use an eReader. Right now, they are only for early adopters. 

While publishers should monitor the market, they should not focus too much on which standard or hardware to put their money on at the moment. Technology investment is better spent improving digital supply chains and getting eCommerce sites in order.

 

If you would like to read more, this White Paper can be downloaded here. 

 

Shift Learning can help you in the following ways: 

Usability services

An expert usability review of your website or software product

Usability testing with customers from your target market

Eyetracking

Focus groups

The creation of a usability style guide for website editors 

Search engine optimisation

Search engine marketing is easy to implement, cheap and is proven to have a strong return on investment. It is a particularly effective marketing technique as it is behaviourally triggered. This means that it is uniquely targeted, personalised and delivered at a stage in the buying cycle where you can influence your customer's/user's behaviour.

Accessibility services

Establish best-practice standards for your future commissioning 

Through our accessibility testing service, we can provide you with clear recommendations of how to improve the accessibility of your online offerings and meet current legislation.

 

Would you like to discuss your business needs? If so, please contact

 

Jane Powell  Helene Moran

Managing Director  Director

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020 7253 8959                020 7253 8959