Customised eTextbooks - A Stakeholder Perspective

Clemens Bechter, Yves-Gorat Stommel

2014

Abstract

In this article we present a reader’s as well as an author’s perception of customized eTextbooks. Customisation providers such as editors, translators and graphic designers were asked about their preferred model of compensation for their work by self-publishing eTextbook authors or publishers. Although the royalty model was preferred by authors, most providers prefer an upfront payment. The main goal of this paper is to assess the value that stakeholders put on customised content. A survey conducted in 2013 showed that readers are not willing to pay a substantial amount for customisation. Readers associate a high level of risk with purchasing a self-published eTextbook. Respondents considered a fair retail price for self-published eTextbooks should be a third lower than those distributed by publishing houses. However, current prices charged by renowned publishing houses for a typical post-graduate level textbook chapter (i.e., around US$ 8-9) are higher than readers (e.g., students) consider reasonable. Convenience is the major factor determining why people read eTextbooks and recommendations by peers and forum members rank top in creating awareness and influencing the actual purchase. The authors recommend a system based on collaborative filtering to provide customization options to readers.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Bechter C. and Stommel Y. (2014). Customised eTextbooks - A Stakeholder Perspective . In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 3: CSEDU, ISBN 978-989-758-022-2, pages 163-170. DOI: 10.5220/0004765301630170

in Bibtex Style

@conference{csedu14,
author={Clemens Bechter and Yves-Gorat Stommel},
title={Customised eTextbooks - A Stakeholder Perspective},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 3: CSEDU,},
year={2014},
pages={163-170},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0004765301630170},
isbn={978-989-758-022-2},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF
JO - Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Computer Supported Education - Volume 3: CSEDU,
TI - Customised eTextbooks - A Stakeholder Perspective
SN - 978-989-758-022-2
AU - Bechter C.
AU - Stommel Y.
PY - 2014
SP - 163
EP - 170
DO - 10.5220/0004765301630170