| A number of conferences dealing with electronic | | | | conference organizers need to predict what the |
| technology occur on a regular basis. Two of these | | | | relevant digital change questions will be and what will |
| are the Digital Book World Conference and the | | | | be relevant to the target audience of book-publishing |
| Consumer Electronics Show. | | | | professionals in January 2011. |
| The Digital Book World Conference, a conference on | | | | The Conference Council, a group of about 30 made |
| publishing and digital change, is for all book-publishing | | | | up of CEOs, representatives from large and small |
| professionals. This includes senior management, | | | | publishing houses, retailers, digital strategists, retailers, |
| editors, agents, marketers, digital strategists, and | | | | and independent leaders, will plan the programs and |
| others. It is unique in that it helps publishers address | | | | choose speakers who will address the relevant issues |
| business challenges created by digital change. | | | | and problems that trade publishers are facing as they |
| The first annual Digital Book World Conference took | | | | move into digital publishing. Not only is the technology |
| place in New York City January 26-27, 2010 at the | | | | of e-readers progressing rapidly, but e-Ink technology |
| Sheraton Hotel and Towers. Planners of the | | | | is improving alongside it opening new horizons for |
| conference conceived the idea in June, put together | | | | digital reading. According to the review "What's Next |
| the Conference Council in July, and drafted the initial | | | | in e-Ink Technology", the new generation color E Ink |
| program in August. They geared panels and talks | | | | products are certainly crisper and offer better |
| towards the changing digital book business. It had | | | | resolution and color reproduction that anything else |
| three main themes: Evolving the Business Model, | | | | seen to date and we expect to see electronic ink |
| EBooks: Opportunity or Threat, and Marketing in the | | | | begin to compete with LCD displays. |
| Digital Age. Topics discussed included management of | | | | Another conference, the International Consumer |
| digital rights, pricing of eBooks, and timing of eBook | | | | Electronics Show (CES) is held each year in Las |
| releases. The goal was to provide an outstanding | | | | Vegas, Nevada. The Consumer Electronics |
| program with expert speakers for attendees to | | | | Association (CEA) puts on this technology-related |
| takeaway practical ideas, and to include sponsors and | | | | trade show, which is not open to the public. |
| exhibitors capable of offering appropriate tools for | | | | Attendees must have a professional affiliation with |
| implementing the strategies individuals learned about | | | | consumer electronics. The CEA reinvests all profits |
| at the conference. | | | | from the show. They go towards such things as |
| Attendees were professionals from five continents | | | | industry promotion and services, technical training and |
| representing more than 240 publishing companies | | | | education, development of engineering standards, and |
| including Digital, Barnes&Noble.com, Crown Publishing | | | | legislative advocacy. |
| Group, Google, HarperCollins, Macmillan, National | | | | Originally, in 1967, CES was held in New York. Then in |
| Geographic Society, Oxford University Press, | | | | 1978, it started being held twice a year. In 1998 the |
| Princeton University Press, Random House, as well as | | | | show once again changed and went back to the |
| many others. Individuals from all areas of book | | | | once a year format. The CES gained popularity in |
| acquisition, production, and distribution were present | | | | 2004 after Comdex was cancelled. |
| at the conference. Among them were CEOS, Senior | | | | The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, held January |
| Agents, Directors of Marketing & Sales, Editorial | | | | 7-10, had an attendance of more than 120,000. The |
| Directors, Directors of Strategic Partnerships, and | | | | most impressive e-book readers at the show were |
| Directors of Digital Assets. | | | | Skiff Reader and Plastic Logic Que proReader - |
| The second annual conference, Digital Book World | | | | touchscreen devices with integrated 3G. Also at that |
| 2011, coming up January 24-26, will again be held at | | | | show, several companies announced 3D-compatible |
| the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in New York City. | | | | HDTVs and four companies announced standalone 3D |
| The theme this year is Managing Risks; Seizing | | | | Blu-ray players. Intel demonstrated a new Wireless |
| Opportunities. On Monday, January 24, conference | | | | Display technology (WiDi), and Motorola introduced |
| attendees can participate in three-hour workshops in | | | | the new Backflip Smartphone. |
| the areas of eBook Design and Production, Content | | | | The next CES, January 6-9, 2011, will have more than |
| Strategy and Transmedia Development, and | | | | 300 conference sessions covering every aspect of |
| Direct-to-Consumer Marketing and Sales. | | | | the consumer electronics industry. The full conference |
| Planning for this year's conference is well ahead of | | | | lineup will be available October 1, 2010. |
| last year's schedule. As they plan for the upcoming | | | | |