If after reading that title you thought of this, then I'm SO happy you follow my blog (RE is a favorite of mine, though they should've stopped after #2):
However, the Project Alice I'm talking about involves BOOKS.
And can be found about 1/3 of the way into this video (it's 5 minutes -- if you let it buffer and skip to the 3:00 mark, it's the Alice portion).
This video offers a sneak peek into IDEO's* vision of books of the future. I'm not entirely excited / impressed by Nelson (though I see it having a huge impact on non-fiction), Coupland is a fabulous concept that I can see as a Library-Bookstore hybrid (seems like an oxymoron, right? But watch the video and see what I mean), but for the children's realm specifically, Project Alice holds a LOT of promise (and, um, hello Cassie Clare shoutout!).
Next week I'll be touching base on how I think we should be looking at enhanced eBooks as more than just the book equivelent of a DVD with extra features.
Are you Team Nelson, Team Coupland, Team Alice, or Team I-Hate-eBooks-Why-Are-Things-Headed-In-This-Direction?!
~KO
*IDEO is a Design and Innovation Consulting firm -- what's that? It's a company that comes up with really cool ideas....for other companies (i.e. they don't execute said ideas themselves) to help them innovate and grow.
I'm a huge personal fan of e-books, I sell an e-book reader through work, and I think the digital aspects make an excellent companion to the physical book. That being said, Project Alice kind of makes my head swim. As a reader, I think I'd really enjoy it. As a writer, it seems like a lot of extra work aimed at a specific platform. I think I'd have to have it in my hand so I can play with it before it really makes sense to me.
~Dot
I must admit, I did picture that! I'm a huge RE fangirl. This is really interesting and I do love the shoutout to Cassie. Thank you for this post. It gives one a lot to think about.
I think all three of those ideas are interesting ones. I love the idea of books becoming more interactive and a more social type of media. Not that we don't already have the social aspect now with traditional books ("OMG, have you read...?"), but I like how it's expanding with eBooks and their potential.
I have to agree with Dot in the previous comment though...as a writer, Project Alice blows my mind and sounds like it could change how writers do things completely. But at the same time, it's exciting. Often times while writing, I've thought about this or that cool thing I could add to my website if I ever get my book published. Those cool ideas could be added to Project Alice and would make the actual experience while reading the book even more awesome.
Team Alice for sure! But is anyone really doing this yet?
I think that this kind of non-linear story has been around for quite a while - in print. They were called "Choose your own adventure". The only thing I hated about them was the 2nd person POV.
With the rise of the Internet, I had thought that many non-linear stories would show up but this is the first sign I notice. I believe it's an interesting option. It makes writing more complicated but also more satisfying because you can add stuff that would clutter the main story line. I'm interested but not (yet) excited.
WOW-- team ALICE would be AMAZING to teach kids about literature!!
When is this coming out, and how soon can I buy it?
I so did think RE! And I agree, they should have stopped after 2.
I think the idea of Project Alice sounds really cool. It takes Choose Your Own Adventure stories to a whole new level.
CRAZY! I love all three ideas, but Alice is definitely perfect for fiction. Thanks for the video.
ebooks are the most awesome thing EVER. I have 50 books on something that can fit into my small bag, and can be taken ANYWHERE. I still pick up a "real" one form the store, but I'm loving ebooks.
Cool video.
I thought Project Alice was a fan campaign to bring back the TV show "V"?