Week 2 (September 23)
The future of newspapers
My first idea was to observe the changes Estonian newspapers are going through while moving their content online, and to look into the 3 types of readers: those who continue reading a print version, those who prefer to read the paper online (perhaps downloading a PDF format), and those who quickly settle into reading their favourite newspaper(s) on iPhone/iPad apps (which many of the Estonian publishers are expected to introduce already in the next couple of months). What are the interactive features online and/or iPad/iPhone readers are looking for, how do the editors (many of whom are still used to producing paper content) manage to meet the expectations of these readers? Would Estonians, who have one of the highest Internet penetration rates in the world but who at the same time are used to free Wi-Fi in most of the public places, accept to pay for online content, and how much cheaper should an online version of the newspaper be, in order for the reader to want to buy it and for the publisher to make their desired profit?
Newspaper iPhone apps can bring a leading edge technology to an industry many consider tired and old fashioned, maybe even comatose. What an iPhone app can do is bring the newspaper and its content one step closer to the customers, who are able to personalize and share their favorite news content and read it anywhere they are, even offline. iPhone apps can help newspapers add a social networking feature to their publications and give an advertising sales force something new to talk about with potential advertisers instead of dwelling on declining circulation numbers.
The first area of interest is closely related to my job as a Marketing Specialist for the Estonian weeklies Eesti Ekspress and Maaleht, and therefore quite easily researchable. However, I find it more and more appealing to observe the iPhone/iPad generation, especially as a new and exciting interactive learning device for children.
iPad - a revolution in children's culture
Children are hardwired for touch interfaces, and they have become to love iPhones. Although the iPad was only recently introduced, it has proved to be even more appealing and is believed to spark a revolution in children's culture. Kids will learn to read, write and count on iPads, watch TV, movies and cartoons on iPads, do social networking, play games, and even colour in virtual colouring books. Book publishers and entertainment companies around the world have already found a way to children's heart through iPad apps. What could be the best practices for education providers in using iPad as a teaching/learning device? Will iPad prepare children better for the future than TV has done so far? How can parents use iPad in their childrens' best interest? What are the advantages for themselves? What is an acceptable age for a child to become friends with iPad? How is their reaction going to vary in different age groups? What is the situation going to look like in Estonia where iPhones are already quite popular but iPads are not officially sold as yet? Is iPad going to be the No. 1 most requested holiday and birthday gift anytime soon?
Reading: Why iPad Is the 'Children's Toy of the Year'
Overview
- If the iPhone was natural for children, the iPad will be even more natural, simply because it's larger.
- I think the iPad will spark a revolution in children's culture. I'm convinced that starting this year, and especially next year, iPads will be the No. 1 most requested holiday and birthday gift by everyone under the age of 18, and especially under the age of 12.
- Starting this year, kids will learn to read, write and count on iPads. They'll watch TV, movies and cartoons on iPads. They'll do social networking, play games, and even color in virtual coloring books.
- By the time these kids reach middle school, they will have been using multitouch user interfaces almost every day for eight years or more.
- The iPad platform will prove irresistible to everyone - parents, content providers, and especially the kids themselves.
You can follow him on Twitter or his blog, The Raw Feed.
A few videos on the topic
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