In a relatively recent post on O’Reilly Radar, Peter Brantley speculates about the future direction and utility of ebook readers. In the post Brantley suggests that the key to ebook reader success is the utilization of mixed media. He asserts that apart from the advantage of portability and more extensive support for visually handicapped readers, the impetus to migrate from print to digital is essentially weak.

Brantley argues that until text-based book production, as a creative process, turns more mixed media and lends sufficient scaffolding for user generated content, reuse, and republication, the appeal of any dedicated, standalone device will be limited. He suggests that ultimately it will be easier to generate marginal cross book-sector penetration with converged devices (iPhone/gPhone) in which reflowable text/html formats (such as epub) are a straightforward application.

Brantley asserts that with the ability to merge multiple mediums, converged mobile devices will “most readily support the envisioning and enactment of new forms of creative expression, ranging from discursive texts which mutually engage authors and readers; location-sensitive rich-media manga with self-selected forking plots; narratives with multiple entry points and randomized outcomes; hybrid reality games where communication, collaboration, and interaction occur in a combination of physical and the digital spaces.”

In today’s blogging, commenting, tagging, social networking world, interactivity might be the most exciting potential feature of ebook readers for Higher Education. With converged mobile devices, students and teachers might have the opportunity to interact with texts in ways that we have yet to imagine.