bill mc coy @ ebook lab italia 2011 - introducing the forthcoming major revision of the epub format...
DESCRIPTION
EPUB has been rapidly adopted as the open standard interchange and delivery format for eBooks and other digital publications based on XML and Web standards such as HTML and CSS. This talk will briefly explain the background of EPUB and the IDPF organization responsible for its standardization, and then focus in on EPUB 3, the forthcoming third major revision to EPUB. The talk will review the goals for EPUB 3, outline and demonstrate the major new features that it supports (rich media, interactivity, improved accessibility, more precise formatting, and more) and discuss the anticipated timeline for its finalization and adoption.TRANSCRIPT
Introduc)on to IDPF & EPUB Ebook Lab Italia 4 March 2011
Bill McCoy
What is IDPF?
• Not for profit Trade and Standards organiza)on with over 175 members from 25+ countries.
• All working together to advance Digital Publishing Ecosystem
• Responsible for EPUB Standard
What is EPUB?
• EPUB is the interchange & delivery format for digital publica)ons based on Web Standards
• EPUB enables structured, accessible content,
interoperable between devices & applica)ons, for downloaded and online consump)on
• Standard developed by IDPF since 1999
(OEBPS 1.x became EPUB 2.0 in 2007) • EPUB = XHTML content with naviga)onal structure &
metadata, in a ZIP-‐based package
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EPUB Emphasis: Dynamic Layout
Content paginated “on the fly” based on screen size, resolution, user font size preferences, …
EPUB Industry Adop)on Timeline
2007 -‐ EPUB standardized -‐ Adobe Digital Edi)ons -‐ Adobe InDesign -‐ Sony Reader
2008 -‐ AAP endorses -‐ UK PA endorses
2009 -‐ Google: 1M PD EPUBs -‐ Sony store to EPUB -‐ B&N Nook
2010 -‐ Apple iBooks -‐ 25+ eReaders -‐ 25+ smartphone apps -‐ Most Kindle sales from )tles ingested as EPUB
-‐ EPUB 3 WG chartered
EPUB 3 Working Group chartered May 2010 with ambi)ous goals
• Expand EPUB applicability for global content • Improvement for complex, interac)ve, media-‐rich )tles
– Textbooks, STM, magazines
• Increase Web Standards alignment (HTML5)
• Improve EPUB conformance & accessibility
IDPF WG has been global in scope: over 100 ac)ve par)cipants, F2F mee)ngs in NYC, SF, Taipei, Sapporo
IDPF on Feb. 14th published the first Public Drae of EPUB 3 for public review and trial use
EPUB 3 is on track to reach Proposed Drae in May 2011, with member approval vote to follow
EPUB 3: General Enhancements – Core content based on XHTML5
– Enhanced global language support (ver)cal wri)ng, wri)ng direc)ons)
– Styling & layout enhancements
– Improved metadata capabili)es
– MathML support
– Founda)on for cross-‐document links and annota)ons
EPUB 3: Rich Media Enhancements • Video & audio support
• Audio can be synchronized with text • Embedded font support a baseline requirement • Improved SVG support • JavaScript support
Beyond EPUB 3.0 • Modular development of new EPUB capabili)es
– Dynamic templates – Dic)onary schema – Annota)ons and advanced cross-‐document linking – Security / rights management capabili)es
• Increase focus on the “whole product” – Test suites, cer)fica)on – Valida)on programs – Open source implementa)ons – Educa)on & training
• Promo)ng global adop)on – ISO-‐level standardiza)on – Improve alignments with other digital publishing organiza)ons
Summary • EPUB 3 is taking the EPUB standard to a new level • EPUB 3 is an incremental step, not the des)na)on
– We don’t know what the “book/magazine of the future” will be so we can’t hard-‐wire for one par)cular embodiment of content & experience
– EPUB is an “innova)on plamorm” – enabling you to effec)vely distribute many kinds of content experiences, via a wide variety of channels
– IDPF is kicking off modular development of addi)onal EPUB capabili)es and you are invited to get involved!
