View unanswered posts | View active topics
It is currently Sat May 24, 2025 6:15 pm
Help with my dissertation please
Author |
Message |
John_Vella
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:55 am Posts: 7935 Location: Manchester.
|

Hi, I have started work on my dissertation, (it's a BSc course on IT in case anyone doesn't know) and the rather grandiose sounding title of my dissertation is "Investigation on the emergence of e-Readers and their effect on book sales and libraries" I know that I mentioned something a while back about the open source movement, but I have had a change of heart and this seems more relevant at the moment. Since the proposal has been handed in, I'm doing this now, but I need your help... As part of my dissertation I am going to set up an online focus group, (I will be asking for volunteers here, shortly) and I shall also be creating an on-line poll, and emailing several corporations, such as Amazon, (they make the Kindle), Barnes and noble, (publishers) and also the Central Library in Manchester, (there may be some more names such as Apple, given the popularity of the iPad, and maybe others) with some questions to get their opinions on the topic I am researching. OK, here comes the help bit... I do have some questions in my head, but I was wondering if any of your guys and gals can come up with some relevant and pertinent questions that I can ask the companies, and maybe could be used for the online poll? Before anyone says it, I'm not trying to get anyone to do the work for me, but having a different perspective, and possibly a different way of wording the questions that are in my head would be a massive help. Thanks in advance. 
_________________John Vella BSc (Hons), PGCE - Still the official forum prankster and crude remarker  Sorry  I'll behave now. Promise 
|
Wed Nov 24, 2010 12:54 pm |
|
 |
TheFrenchun
Officially Mrs saspro
Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:55 pm Posts: 4955 Location: on the naughty step
|
i'd study confort, tiredness of users, sustainability, return for authors on work for libraries, if they see a change on the use of their space
Possibly see with schools and uni students? Esp. unis which have online book version and paper copies ?
|
Wed Nov 24, 2010 1:57 pm |
|
 |
paulzolo
What's a life?
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:27 pm Posts: 12251
|
You should also contact small publishers - see how it will affect them too.
|
Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:14 pm |
|
 |
oceanicitl
Official forum cat lady
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:04 am Posts: 11039 Location: London
|
I don't know if it's any use to you but I used to work for Pearson / Penguin books and still have contacts there.
C
_________________Still the official cheeky one 
|
Wed Nov 24, 2010 2:16 pm |
|
 |
John_Vella
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:55 am Posts: 7935 Location: Manchester.
|

Hello... The thread has returned! OK, I'm at the stage where I am going to need some specific help in two areas... As mentioned earlier in this thread, I'm going to be sending some emails to various companies in order to hopefully get some new, (i.e. previously unpublished) opinions to include in my final report, but am struggling to think of specific questions to ask. I do have some questions, both in my head and on file, which I'd rather not share at the moment, simply because I don't want what I already have to influence your thoughts on the matter, as you will probably have a different "take" on the subject, and it's very possible that you will have some ideas which might not have occurred to me. I will also be using these questions in an online questionnaire, which I will be asking people to fill in, and, (finally... maybe?) I'd like some volunteers to set up a mini forum focus group. This would be a few people who would be prepared to help out by sharing their thoughts on the general subject, and the only requirements to apply are that you must have an opinion on e-readers Ad books  I know this is asking a lot, but I think you also know how much I appreciate having you all here, both to help me out and to provide an audience for my entertaining wit and banter  :etc: Thanks guys and gals! 
_________________John Vella BSc (Hons), PGCE - Still the official forum prankster and crude remarker  Sorry  I'll behave now. Promise 
|
Fri Dec 31, 2010 3:57 pm |
|
 |
timark_uk
Moderator
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 6:11 pm Posts: 12143 Location: Belfast
|
Geekette got an eBook reader for Christmas. If you need questions answering from a non-Kindle user I'm sure she'd oblige.
Mark
|
Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:07 pm |
|
 |
l3v1ck
What's a life?
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:21 am Posts: 12700 Location: The Right Side of the Pennines (metaphorically & geographically)
|
This thread is bringing me back nightmares.
|
Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:20 pm |
|
 |
AlunD
Site Admin
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:12 am Posts: 7011 Location: Wiltshire
|
The worrying thing is that means something to me. 
_________________ <input type="pickmeup" name="coffee" value="espresso" />
|
Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:30 pm |
|
 |
John_Vella
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:55 am Posts: 7935 Location: Manchester.
|
Yeah, it means something to me as well... It means that this thread is in danger of being hijacked!  <-- Look! 3 smilies to show that I'm not being, (entirely) serious.  I'm assuming that you did a dissertation or similar on that topic, Lev?
_________________John Vella BSc (Hons), PGCE - Still the official forum prankster and crude remarker  Sorry  I'll behave now. Promise 
|
Fri Dec 31, 2010 4:47 pm |
|
 |
bobbdobbs
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:10 pm Posts: 5490 Location: just behind you!
|
my dissertation was on RNA binding proteins in TAT-TAR complex in HIV-1, the Homologous K domain in fragile X syndrome and Bicoid in Drosophila. Oh how much fun was had with that subject back on topic, We have a Sony e-reader and an extensive "proper" book collection as well, so if you require Id be happy to help.
_________________Finally joined Flickr
|
Fri Dec 31, 2010 6:54 pm |
|
 |
l3v1ck
What's a life?
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:21 am Posts: 12700 Location: The Right Side of the Pennines (metaphorically & geographically)
|
That was my dissertation.
|
Fri Dec 31, 2010 9:03 pm |
|
 |
petermillard
Occasionally has a life
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 2:01 pm Posts: 234 Location: West London
|

Sorry, I missed this thread first time around. I've been an reading eBooks pretty much exclusively for about 3 years, starting on PDAs, then dedicated e-ink readers, then iPhone, iPad and now with a Kindle added into the mix. If you haven't already done so then Jonathan Konrath's blog - here - is well worth a read, and lots of info and opinions on eBooks in general at this forum So, my questions would revolve around geographic restrictions - for publishers to buy the rights to a particular title in a particular area seems absurd in a global, electronic marketplace. It's not uncommon to find a title that isn't available as an eBook in the UK to be available in the US, but for the retailer to be unable to sell you a copy. Or for a UK publisher to only have eBooks available for tiles 2, 4 & 7 of a particular series. Madness. I think eBook formats are less of an issue in a world with App-driven tablets and phones, especially with the wide adoption of ePub as a generic 'standard' but Digital Rights Management applied to eBooks adds a layer of cost, doesn't cut down on 'piracy' yet makes it hard for genuine buyers to do what they want with the books they've purchased. This also links to the question of what is are actually being paid for when you're 'buying' an eBook without physical media involved - publishers in particular seem to be ignoring the lessons of the music business in respect of digital downloads. It's also probably worth mentioning that despite the apparent success of the Kindle (Amazon doesn't release actual sales figures) eBooks are still very much in their infancy, despite having been the 'next big thing' for the last decade. Amazon's Kindle has been very influential in the mainstream adoption of hardware readers and book downloads, and yet outside of the English-speaking world comparatively few eBooks are available in native languages - it took Amazon two years to release an 'international' Kindle, and the Barnes & Noble readers and books are all US-only at present - so whilst things are improving, there's still a long way to go. HTH, Pete.
|
Sat Jan 01, 2011 10:44 am |
|
 |
rustybucket
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:10 pm Posts: 5836
|
Bloody nora you lot had some fiddly titles! Mine was "Refocussing Digital Images".
_________________Jim
|
Sat Jan 01, 2011 4:07 pm |
|
 |
saspro
Site Admin
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:53 pm Posts: 8603 Location: location, location
|
I'm still in contact with O'Reilly's digital content people. They're an interesting case as they refuse to have DRM added to their books when they're sold as it's against their philosophy.
|
Mon Jan 03, 2011 9:38 am |
|
 |
John_Vella
I haven't seen my friends in so long
Joined: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:55 am Posts: 7935 Location: Manchester.
|
OK everyone, I've got the draft of the online survey, but I could do with someone having a look at the questions and maybe pointing out any glaring errors and / or suggesting anything I've left out... Thanks 
_________________John Vella BSc (Hons), PGCE - Still the official forum prankster and crude remarker  Sorry  I'll behave now. Promise 
|
Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:01 pm |
|
|
Who is online |
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests |
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum
|
|