Epub - Controlled reading projector
Manually compiled epub for my MLitt Module "Digital Publishing: Theory and Practice".
The ebook is available for download here.
The main challenge I encountered creating this ebook was organising the information in the section References Cited in the File of this Patent and to decide how to edit the pictures. I opted to implement a table, using the <table style="width:100%">, <tr>, and <td> tags, and organising it in three columns.
Another challenge was deciding whether to further enhance the table with colours or bold borders. However, I reflected upon my personal experience with reading devices and reached the conclusion that not all ebook readers support colours or pictures. I recalled how certain graphic novels, for instance, are clearly readable on a kindle paperwhite when they don't heavily rely on colours. Before making a final decision, I also asked three friends for feedback: two were studying biology and one finance. All of them studied from ebooks which heavily relied on figures, using different reading devices: Kindle, iPad, and personal computers. Firstly, they reported fewer readability issues when the ebook presented non-coloured tables, as often colours were reduced to a scale of grey (eg. for Kindle users). Secondly, sometimes table spits between two virtual pages, increasing their struggles while studying.
Therefore, once considered these factors, I followed the advice to “don’t make [the ebook] cute.” In order to further enhance its readability, a “section2.html” was created and the table moved to this new file.
In addition to developing a knowledge of basic HTML and CSS, the ebook making process made me reflect further on readability and how to adapt the content in order to make it readable in different devices.
Resources used:
- Brackets
- Brackets guide to CSS and HTML
- Linkedin Learning: HTML Essential Training
- W33School
