Multi-Touch Page Flipping eBook Concept Shown on an iPad

KIITC CI web logoThe KAIST Institute of Information Technology Convergence has posted this video demonstrating their patented eBook interface prototype.

The prototype is implemented on an Apple iPad but reportedly uses private Apple APIs, according to the video description. The use of private APIs would prevent the app from being approved for the App Store, but the video shows a number of novel ways to navigate eBooks besides the simple "page flip" motion found on Apple's iBooks app.


The new gestures shown include:

- Page Flipping, by spreading pages and then flipping through
- Page Flipping with finger bookmarking
- Multiple page turning using multiple fingers
- Faster swipes turning multiple page
- Longer presses, then swiping can turn multiple pages
- Writing the page number

Interactive eBooks have been a big topic of discussion over this past week, since Apple's launch of iBooks 2 with their new electronic textbooks. (via Reddit)

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Top Rated Comments

Watabou Avatar
172 months ago
There are some good ideas here and there and I too want Apple to incorporate some of these features on iBooks.

The one problem I see is that the gestures are too complicated and confusing. The one thing people like about ebook reading on the iPad is the simplicity of it. People could easy get confused if you add that much functionality.

But I'm sure Apple will find a way to make them less complicated. :)
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Jayse Avatar
172 months ago
Wow, now that IS a nice touch to conventional eBook reading!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Caliber26 Avatar
172 months ago
I particularly like the page number writing part. Hopefully iBooks will evolve into this, or at least some variation of it.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
larrylaffer Avatar
172 months ago
PROTIP: Average people don't bother learning gestures.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Gates Avatar
172 months ago
There are some good ideas here and there and I too want Apple to incorporate some of these features on iBooks.

The one problem I see is that the gestures are too complicated and confusing. The one thing people like about ebook reading on the iPad is the simplicity of it. People could easy get confused if you add that much functionality.

But I'm sure Apple will find a way to make them less complicated. :)

Agreed.

A bit too much
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Edsel Avatar
172 months ago
This is proof that with 1000+ years of publishing technology, the humble book is still the preferred physical medium.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)