What exactly do we mean by a ‘book app’?
We naturally treasure some of the aspects of traditional bound books
Some recent online discussions about apps have centred on the nature of what we describe as ‘book’ apps. What if a ‘book’ app is actually more like a film? Is page-turning important, even in a digital ‘book’?
While technnology has opened up new creative possibilities for authors and illustrators, the fact that it is easy for us to describe these new digital products as 'books' could trap us into assuming that they must have book characteristics.
This may be right - but it may also be lazy and unimaginative. With our first app, we have stayed fairly close to the model of a traditional book. But I am increasingly realising that the combination of video, audio and, particularly, animation techniques opens up a range of possibilities for products which will not be 'books'. Why do these need to be limited to the features of older kinds of books?
Too much comparison with past glories can lead to the fossilisation of creativity – this is a new art form and we should make the most of it. Perhaps we have just not found the right name for it yet.
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