Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Book to the Future

Y'all might remember the grand entrance of the Vook in 2009. If not, in short: it's a form of enhanced e-book with movies and other media built into it. Video + book = Vook. Simple, cool, innovative, no?

Unfortunately, many readers found the videos and additional media distracting, particularly for works of fiction. (I could have told you that countless nonconsecutive video clips do not help a reader immerse him/herself in a fictional world.) Vook has since moved toward more nonfiction titles, however, and received a better response.

How a Vook differs from the Internet, I have no idea.

However! If you thought the Vook was the pinnacle of book/media mash-ups, you thought wrong. Enter Booktrack, a company that makes soundtracks for books.

Yes, soundtracks for books. Now while you're reading about a forest, you can hear THE SOUNDS OF A FOREST. Like, I don't know, birds and whatnot. When Bro McLadiesMan begins playing a mega sweet power ballad for his lady fair, you can listen along. When you get to a super intense part, you get to listen to super intense movie trailer-style music. &c, &c. (There are previews on the Booktrack website if you're interested.)

The Booktrack speed can be adjusted to your reading speed, as well, so the synchronization between sound effects and text should be reasonably good.

Be that as it may, I think I'll find Booktrack books similar to Vooks: over-hyped and distracting. I'm all for innovation in the field and I think it's necessary to the future success of print media, but I'm not sure rocking the audio equivalent of a movie trailer in the background is the best way to achieve this.

However! I'm curious, as always, to hear what you think. So, mes auteurs: yea or nay on the Booktrack experience?

51 comments:

  1. Though I haven't experienced either of these creatures, I'm inclined to vote nay. Immersing myself in a book is all about letting my imagination take over completely to create the world of the novel. That's part of the joy of reading: it's different for everyone because everyone visualizes the story differently. Adding a soundtrack seems invasive.

    ReplyDelete
  2. If I want forest sounds while I'm reading a book set in the forest, I'll go to the park. I don't need to pay extra to hear birds tweeting.

    On a less snarky note, my general impression is the same as yours, Eric. While some things (birds tweeting, for instance) might enhance the book, I think an actual soundtrack would distract me from the story.

    Books and films are not the same media, and they should not be treated and produced in the same manner. We process words differently than we process visual cues. Films need soundtracks because they don't have the words to tell us the murderer is hiding in the coat closet. Books don't need the extra help.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Part of the appeal of reading books at all is to play out scenes and sounds in the mind. Even with very muted/relaxing music playing, a soundtrack to a book is too much. I can imagine that, at some points, it might enhance the book experience a little, but at best it's distracting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nay.

    Part of the joy of reading (for me) is the peace of sitting in silence and letting the story play in my internal/mental video/stereo system.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I personally agree with everyone here, however, I know a lot of readers who say they can't read in total silence (and writers who must have background noise when writing). I think if I were one of these readers, I'd rather have music appropriate to the story than just whatever's on the shuffle. I've created playlists for my books, but I don't expect anyone to listen WHILE reading. But who knows? Could turn out to be something. Or not.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well, I tend to imagine the sounds for myself very well, but I would be intrigued to try it--until you mentioned the part about adjusting it to match your reading speed. I would just mess around with that, reading the epic parts uber-slowly so I could laugh at the distorted guitar riffs. Then I'd want to shut it off so I could get some real reading done.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The reading speed thing concerns me. My reading speed varies wildly depending on how distracted I am, how exciting/boring the prose is, and whether my daydreams are more interesting. I often re-read paragraphs because I realize I hadn't been paying attention to them.

    I'd be worried the music would suddenly get sinister and I'd realize that whoever I was reading about was about to die or something in the next paragraph.

    ReplyDelete
  8. A good writer writes their own sound-track by the choice of words, of pace, of descriptive detail, etc.

    As a novelty idea for young children this may well take off. For serious readers all the issues raised in previous comments apply.

    ReplyDelete
  9. This sounds like technology for the sake of technology. Somewhere there will be a man, possibly a woman, saying, look how clever I am. How do I know? I work with people in computing who are like that.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I find this rather creepy. Just one more unnecessary device to keep us from using that marvelous instrument known as the human brain.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can't get immersed in a book and listen to music at the same time--I'd end up just tuning out the soundtrack anyway.

    ReplyDelete
  12. While I think it would drive me to distraction, I keep thinking of kids and their picture books and middle school stories. I think the sound tracks would be great, if they were synched to the readers eye so the sound went with the right word.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I had made a proposal a couple years ago that an ebook could include linkouts to mp3s for purchase that would then build a soundtrack for the text. It would offer a secondary revenue stream and appear as "more" for the book than just the book.

    Video would be distracting to me, but the right music just enhances the moment. The hardest thing to calculate is the amount of music versus the expected reading speed of the user. Too slow or too fast and the music would run askew.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wow, so many nay-sayers here :-)

    Okay, I admit that a continual soundtrack to a book would be off-putting for me, but I know plenty of people who read with their music on. Presumably, this would be an optional on/off thing?

    However, I reckon there's an awesome idea here waiting to be found. Imagine downloading your ebook, opening it at the book jacket, and a song starts playing. Perhaps then a snippet of a song can accompany the beginning of each chapter (or dare I say, scene), to set the mood.

    My current WIP could make excellent use of this, as it's set during WW2, so "Moonlight Serenade" by Glenn Miller playing as you gaze upon the title would "set the scene" perfectly.

    It will certainly never take off with paperback readers (obviously), but in this new digital age of reading... who knows. If it's done right (and that should be down solely to the author), it could be a good little gimmick.

    But hey, that's just my opinion.

    ReplyDelete
  15. We're thrilled to see the back-and-forth about our product here on the blog. While we certainly think we're doing something interesting, we can appreciate those who express concerns, and we encourage you all to try out our product! Right now, there are six Booktrack editions live in the iTunes store, five of them for free. Just search "Booktrack" in the App store for detail. And if you ever have any questions or feedback for us, please feel free to send us an e-mail at info at booktrack dot com.

    ReplyDelete
  16. That's totally insane. In a genius sort of way.

    I'd have to try it before I gave it a yey or nay, because it might go the way of normal music when I'm reading - that is sort of a focuser. Or it could be distracting due to non-synchronization (why am I hearing a forest when I'm in a bar?) or it could be *freaking fabulous* when it's spot on. Gotta say I'm kind of intrigued though.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is an informative post which is so clear and understandable. It is excellent information with unique content of this blog and it is very useful to know about the information based on blogs.
    Shipping Company in Delhi

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hapacol.vn is the website of DHG Pharma that provides information about antipyretic analgesics to treat headache, migraine, toothache, aches and pains caused by flu, sore throat, musculoskeletal pains.
    Address: 288 Bis Nguyen Van Cu, P. An Hoa, Q. Ninh Kieu, TP. Can Tho
    Phone number: (+84) (7103) 891 433
    Website: https://hapacol.vn

    ReplyDelete
  19. you have showcased the content in an interesting manner
    Bulk sms Service provider in Pune

    ReplyDelete
  20. dominoqq terbaik dan terbesar saat ini yang kami rekomendasikan hanya di
    http://180.215.13.115

    ReplyDelete
  21. South Ex Escorts | VIP South Ex | South Ex Call Girls
    Our South Ex Escorts Have Ideal And Profoundly Qualified Escort Girls Who Consistently Consider Spreading Satisfaction Through Sexual Services.We Are One Of The Oldest Escort Agencies In Delhi. You Will Find That Our Female South Ex call Girls Are Full Of Fun, Sexy And They Would Love & Enjoy Your Company.
    South Ex Escorts
    South Ex Call Girls

    ReplyDelete
  22. The Global EEG and EMG Equipment Market is driven by the growing global geriatric population. The prevalence of various brain and neuron related disorders along with the rising incidences of degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson disorders in the geriatric population is expected to propel the growth.

    ReplyDelete
  23. The Global Sports Supplement Market is being driven by the growing awareness of the importance of fitness in consumers’ hectic lifestyles, the increasing availability of health clubs and the increasing consumer adoption of nutritious diets, therefore, consumers are progressively shifting to healthier lifestyles that require both physical exercise maintenance and nutritional diets.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Our Criminology Assignment Help experts in the United States are experienced and trained to deliver authentic write-ups to the students whenever they need assistance. We also provide sample content for students to understand our writing style and then make the decisions.

    ReplyDelete
  25. You can book Call girl ladies during this town anytime anyplace from a booking agency of Paharganj escorts. There's no need to browse for the offline escort booking agency after you have a chance to try to do the web booking for the decision ladies and escorts.
    Paharganj escorts

    ReplyDelete
  26. Assignment Help toowoomba

    Get online all academic assignment help in Toowoomba from Best Assignment Experts at a very cheap and low budget. Our assignment writing service is very swift, responsible, dedicated, and provides first-class quality assistance. Scoring an A+ grade is so easy once you hire us for your all academic Assignment Help toowoomba. We are a team of more than four thousand writers, scholars, and PhD.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Do you need an urgent loan of any kind? Loans to liquidate debts or need to loan to improve your business have you been rejected by any other banks and financial institutions? Do you need a loan or a mortgage? This is the place to look, we are here to solve all your financial problems. We borrow money for the public. Need financial help with a bad credit in need of money. To pay for a commercial investment at a reasonable rate of 3%, let me use this method to inform you that we are providing reliable and helpful assistance and we will be ready to lend you. Contact us today by email: daveloganloanfirm@gmail.com Call/Text: +1(501)800-0690 And whatsapp: +1 (501) 214‑1395

    NEED A LOAN?
    Ask Me.

    ReplyDelete
  28. All the best blogs that is very useful for keeping me share the ideas of the future as well this is really what I was looking for, and I am very happy to come here. Thank you very much Also visit my website: 바카라사이트

    ReplyDelete
  29. Your post is very great.i read this post this is a very helpful. i will definitely go ahead and take advantage of this. You absolutely have wonderful stories.Cheers for sharing with us your blog. Also visit my website: 바카라사이트

    ReplyDelete
  30. ISO 45001 is an international high-level structure standard for occupational health and safety. It specifies the requirements to reduce or prevent accidental death or injuries, diseases to employees in the workplace.ISO 45001 Certification in Germany

    ReplyDelete
  31. Help us make more transplants possible!
    We are currently looking for kidney donors in "LS Medical Center" to help patients who face life time dialysis problem unless they under go Kidney Transplant. Here we offer financial rewards to interested donors. contact us via Email: kidneylivertc@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. HosterPK provides web hosting in Pakistan and is currently the top hosting service in Pakistan with more than 50000+ sites hosted,

    web hosting in pakistan

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am thanked to visit this site as it pairs up with excellent content to glorify the existing knowledge in a better way. So, it would be great to intensify your knowledge with the procurement of Assignment Help service. Here, you find untold truth for acing success.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I simply wish to give you a huge thumbs up for your excellent info you’ve got right here on this post. I am coming back to your site for more soon. 온라인카지노

    ReplyDelete
  35. One of the best website to watch online & download free movies site is
    Themoviesflix pro

    ReplyDelete
  36. The fastest and safest ride to the airport in London.Clean and comfortable cars. Fully licensed taxi services. one of the most trusted taxi services in London. Meet & greet. special airport rates.
    Book in under 60 seconds. Professional drivers.24 hours assistance. Our services include taxi transfers to Gatwick, Heathrow, London, Luton & Stansted airport. we are here to make you comfortable and hassle less for. Friendly and reliable taxi service at competitive prices. Our commitment to you is quality and long-lasting.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Amazing website, Love it. Great work done. Nice website. Love it. This is really nice.
    Hbomax/tvsignin
    Disneyplus.com/Begin
    Disneyplus.com login/begin
    Fubo.tv/connect

    ReplyDelete
  38. Do you want to know about Ali A Net Worth, early life, age, and relationship status?

    ReplyDelete
  39. thank you so much follow the couposn code to get amazing discount and deal in all category Waist Dear voucher codes

    ReplyDelete