UKSG Conference 2008

I attended and presented at the UKSG (United Kingdom Serials Group) 2008 Conference this year. Much of the conference was written up at http://liveserials.blogspot.com/. Here are some general thoughts an reflections on the proceedings.

It really struck me how complex the world of Digital publishing is becoming and that the publishers themselves are struggling with this. Although many of the publishers are increasingly using 'Web 2.0' style technology for delivery, very few (if any) are actively engaging the user in the process. So User Generated Content was not a phrase I heard very often. However, libraries seemed to be slowly acknowledging the challenges and opportunities. I attended an interesting breakout session on 'Library 2.0' where the presenters had identified that one of the biggest Web 2.0 barriers was staff knowledge and essentially they engaged on program of upskilling staff, so they could better understand and use these technologies.

I was left with the impression that the commercial side of the publishing process is struggling with the new tools and methods that are available en masse and cheaply. However. the conference also emphasised the importance (perhaps unsurprisingly) that one the key values a publishing house brings to the process is credibility and this will be difficult to erode with technology but if publishers want the credibility to remain valued they will have to think of ways of making sure that their markets acknowledge it and price themselves accordingly.

UKSG 2008 Day 1

This year's United Kingdom Serials Group conference is taking place in Torquay. As a conference speaker I have been put up in The Grand, which is a short walk from the International Riviera Centre, where the conference is taking place. The Grand is a pleasant enough hotel with a slightly faded 1930's charm, which is a appropriate as Agatha Christie had connections here.

It's the second time I have spoken here, the first time was in Edinburgh on Accessibility. This time it is about 'Delivering Mobile Services'. The conference is made up publishers, Content buyers e.g. JISC and service providers like Mimas.

It occurred to me as I listened to talks by James Gray, Ingram Digital Group, Muir Gray, NHS National Knowledge Service and Kevin M Guthrie, Ithaka that the delivery of digital services is increasingly complex and that publishers are struggling to define themselves in a Web 2.0 world, a world in which education services in general also struggle with.

Users are increasingly offered and have devices that promise access to anything, anywhere. However, in reality web sites and services, which in the main are still designed with desktop or laptop computer access in mind offer a second rate user experience when used on devices such as mobile phones.

Bearing in mind that most services are trying to keep or attract users it seems an ill placed view to rely on 3rd party software such as Opera Mini (as useful as it is) to take care formatting web pages for use on devices such as mobile phones.

As modes of access and user digital interactions become evermore complex then it becomes the response by services and providers must reflect and that an understanding of the complex issues involved must be grasped.