QBook - Just how far can it go?

	Kiwa International Creative Director Derek Judge showcases the New Zealand company's QBook at the Hong Kong Book Fair

The QBook takes traditional children’s books and presents them in a colourful “interactive touch-enabled digital format.” The result is a book in a multi-language, e-reader-ready format that allows children to read, listen, draw and even narrate the story themselves.

Mr Judge said he was constantly amazed at how quickly children were adapting to the technological advances. “The kids are so fast,’’ he says. “Show them once, and it immediately sinks in while their parents are sometimes still scratching their heads.’’

The main challenge ahead for the digital publishing industry, he said, was in finding out just how far it could go. Kiwa, for example, was originally focused on animation for television and film but recognised how the talent of its team could be channeled into developing e-book apps.

“The more you explore, the more you realise what can be done,’’ he said. “Pretty much any form of media can be adapted and introduced to these new formats.’’

But Mr Judge said the entire industry was still on a steep learning curve. “We are all learning as we go,’’ he said. His advice to anyone wanting to enter the market was simple. “Don’t be afraid,’’ he said. “Just get to work.’’

Digital publishing took centre stage at this year’s Book Fair. Speakers at the Asian Publishing Conference focused on how such developments were affecting the industry, and the “eBooks and Digital Publishing’’ pavilion was popular with fairgoers.

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