This article made me really think about all of the different ways that ebooks can impact writing. Ebooks gather so much data from users each time they pick up a book. Ebooks provide the exact data of how a reader interacts with a text like where they stop, where they read quicker or slower, and what they reread. What if readers statistically lost momentum in a book around page 150? Then the publisher could take this exact data into consideration and add a plot twist. Or what about personalized ebooks? Much like the advertisements on the sidebar of Facebook, ebooks could be individually targeted at consumers.
I think its really interesting and cool that ebooks allow publishers and writers to see exactly how their books are read. However, I would just hope that the author wouldn’t move too far from their original work to “better satisfy” readers.
I never knew that e-books could gather so much information from people. It makes more sense to me now as to why the publishing industry seems to be pushing e-books so much, since they obviously provide beneficial information to assist in industry growth.
This is an interesting prospect that I never thought about before. I wonder how many different applications such data could be used for. The thought of personalizing the whole ebook experience adds a new dimension to this market, allowing for increased revenue. This would surely provide even more momentum for an industry that is already experiencing tremendous growth.
The United States has traditionally liked its right to privacy–just look at the Constitution. Our general, however, is so use to sharing information via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, etc. that we are more desensitized to the idea of privacy. Data mining already occurs on Facebook, Google, your email, etc. and producers use it to try to make the market more efficient. If you got bored at page 150 traditionally, would it be the worst thing that publishers knew this and tried to change that experience for the better?