Arthur AttwellElectric Book Works

Print and ebookproduction, distribution,

and research

a list and a digital sandbox

self-managed learning:reduced cost of training,

proven as or more effectivethan traditional methods

focus: paediatrics and hiv

in-house resources:one staff member,20% of their time

money spent on digital: probably < R1000

ebwhealthcare.com

moderated comments

simplified mobile version

free pdf-ebooks (95% of book)

network-based content sites

over 11 000 free pdfs downloaded in 2.5 years

over 3700 copies sold

conventional workflow:Word MSS—InDesign—

PDF/HTML

distribution:Ingram Digital to retailers

and libraries, website HTML for PC & mobile,

Scribd, Kindle,local and international

print-on-demand

two models

print—conventional sales

digital—sell the course and the convenience,

not the content

lessons

we learn more from doing something small than from planning big

(disclosure: wake littered with failed experiments)

content updated every few months, no big print runs:version control is critical

culture of being organised:human systems are more important than software

small team, small budget, but with impatience and authority to experiment

next step: get booksinto XML earlier

from what we’ve learned working manually, title by title, we’re better placed to start working en masse

and in XML

experiment now while it doesn’t count on your income statement

(enterprise solutions are an expensive way to learn)

electricbookworks.com

twitter.com/electricbook