E-Content : Technologies and Perspectives for the European Market

Technologies develop rapidly and reach hurricane levels of velocity but quality E-Content and innovative applications lag behind. This book addresses the question how content industries change within a digital environment and what role information and communication technologies play in transforming the competitive landscape. The authors argue that post-industrial societies tend to pay substantial amounts for equipment and gadgets but invest far too little in the quality of the content. As a result, much effort is and has to be spent on the enhancement of E-Content. The contributions give an elaborate overview of:- the specifics, challenges and prospects of content in the network economy, - market developments of digital media services, - paid content business models, - impacts on scientific publishing, - developments in the field of E-Learning, - the interplay between technology and content with the example of interactive digital TV, - the mobile games market, - emerging new cross media markets, - the need to enhance the usability of websites and mobile applications, - how digital applications might be used to capture and store our personal experiences. A final chapter shows the prospects of the European E-Content market and gives an overview of valuable initiatives and resources dealing with the topic of E-Content. TOC:Introduction.- A. Buchholz, A. Zerfass: E-Content in Europe: Dimensions of an Emerging Field.- T. Pelkonen: The State of Digital Media Service Business.- J. Boumans: Paid Content: From Fee to Fee.- A. Nagy: The Impact of E-Learning.- Z. Karssen: Scientific Publishing: A European Strength.- T. Pelkonen: Mobile Games: An Emerging Content Business Area.- J. Boumans: Cross-Media on the Advance.- J. Orava, M. Perttula: Interactive Digital Television in Europe.- A. Zerfass, B. Hartmann: The Usability Factor: Improving the Quality of E-Content.- P. Werkhoven: Experience Machines: Capturing and Retrieving Personal Content.- P.A. Bruck: Prospects of E-Content in Europe.- A. Buchholz, B. Hartmann, S. Sandhu: A Guide to European Initiatives and Resources in E-Content.- About the Authors.