One review appeared alongside other new applications in the popular iPad2 magazine.

The future of VIZeBooks looks very promising, especially if – like in the review above – our only drawback is that the public need more of what we produce!

You can’t ‘do’ much with a 2D book other than read it.  For centuries we believed that was all a book could be.

Technology tells us a different tale….

Finding the right platform and application to not only reach your intended and future audiences, but also staying true to your company’s ethos and image, can be difficult.

Earlier this year, Amber Books – a publishing company based in London who specialise in military books, amongst other genres – looked to widen their market, to reach those readers with little, or no knowledge of their titles.

Charles Catton, Publishing Manager, said, “Due to the graphic nature and imagery included throughout our military books, we needed a digital solution that would best serve, or enhance, the visual element.”

Great Potential

“The digital products and options open to us, in April 2011, were extremely limited and very expensive for the level of quality we were seeking.”

“I met Angela Patchell at the London Book Fair and when she showed me the VizEbooks’ app, I saw immediate potential for our titles. As companies, we both face the same issue – our books are carefully and expensively designed to present their content in the best possible manner.  The VIZebooks’ platform was clearly well thought out and attractive, both in price and visually; following a few tweaks, it was perfect for our military audience. In fact, the whole process was remarkably smooth.”

“Easily, one of the biggest benefits of VIZebooks was its Apple-like ease of use – it was so simple to understand, even if the user had never come across an e-bookstore before. We instantly saw a way of quickly making our content available digitally, reaching more consumers, such as those without access to a bookshop.  Even for readers that do frequent book stores, there are few outlets that house a wide range of military books – with VIZeBooks, anyone can search or find our titles.”

Stamp your own brand

As VIZebooks’ software is easily customisable, Amber Books were able to completely brand their digital bookstore with their own logos and images.  The app is easily accessible, which served their needs of reaching markets previously untapped.

Charles found that the quality of VIZeBooks outstanding, and the first of its kind designed for visual books.  He said, “VIZeBooks gives an enhanced reading experience for the illustrated military enthusiast, because it allows him or her to zoom into the illustrations and photographs to see real detail, in an easy and convenient manner. It’s even better than a printed book in that respect.”

The creator of VIZeBooks, Angela Patchell, is delighted Amber Books found what they were looking for.  She said, “Amber Books’ military titles are perfectly suited to the VIZeBooks’ concept.  The product was borne from our frustrations, as publishers of visual books, that the concept of a title was often much bigger and better than the finished, printed product.  VIZeBooks was created to allow users to interact with what they were reading.”

Future plans…

So what does the future hold for Amber Books, now that they can access new markets and collect reams of new military book enthusiasts?

“We want Military Books to be more than just a bookstore. We want it to become a destination of choice for military enthusiasts; therefore, we are approaching other military publishers to bring their content on board.  We have exciting plans for the future development of the app!”

For more information on Amber Books’ Military Books, visit www.amberbooks.co.uk.

Digital technology and the internet has revolutionised most industries, not least education.  Giving students the freedom to learn from a distance and equipping them with the skills of managing their own work patterns and pace, technology has advanced traditional methods.

Even within the digital revolution, evolvement is continuous. Written material and CDs have given way to cloud-based storage of course content and individual access.

A whole new way….

The newest format, which further enhances the learning process, is the introduction of the VIZecourse App, designed for Visual eLearning.  Offering a complete course in a single app, students, readers and tutors form a virtual class, tutorial or study group.

Students’ work is private with contact between the individual and tutor made through secure, personal mailboxes.  A digital e-library offers continual resource material and students’ coursework, links, articles and images can all be saved in the user’s individual ‘box’.  A purpose-built digital workspace is amongst the app’s best features, providing a notebook, sketchbook and diary; placing them in-hand at any time, day or night, for whenever inspiration strikes or when other demands on your time allow you the time to work.  Everything will already be at the individual’s finger-tips, offering up the time spent gathering materials to be spent creatively, working towards core competencies or skills.

Control….and freedom

User control allows students the freedom to decide when tutors are allowed access to work for grading.  The project management calendar helps students to manage their time effectively, whilst still acting as a personal reminder as deadlines approach.

Contact through the VIZeCourse app is easy via an email inbox and SKYPE is integrated for tutorials or face-to-face interaction.  An integrated community blog also encourages discussion, feedback and the exchanging of ideas as a group.

Freedom is an outstanding factor of the app, and offers students a confidence that they’re learning on a level playing field, not inhibited or under pressure from their peers.  Even the most introverted students can shine and project their individuality through this eLearning phenomenon.

Review and grading

Teachers can edit course-book content, upload seminars and update to-do lists, with the app allowing them to exercise their control within the learning tool without detracting from the freedom experienced by the users.

Having everything you need at your fingertips can be very empowering, not to mention stimulating.  The seamlessness of the app perfectly complements any course, allowing visual elements, written soltuions and real-life examples – along with support and resources.

The whole world around us is speeding up; technology lets us work, play and earn faster than ever before.  The very nature of the VIZeCourse app equips students with the digital and time management skills they’ll undoubtedly need in our time, whilst they’re learning about other subjects and gaining valuable competencies.

The sheer convenience of the VIZeCourse’s app, not to mention the innovation, does beg the question, “Where would technology go from here?”.  Twenty years ago, few people used the internet for their shopping – now we live most of our lives out online.

What are your thoughts, given the all-encompassing offering from VIZeCourses?  Can life get any faster?