CafeScribe: Web 2.0 meets academic publishing

Kristen Nicole — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:01:00 -0700

CAFESCRIBE see slideshow

10 ‘Net services that will:

Succeed
Trulia | SceneCaster | CafeScribe OverlayTV | Fav.or.it | Hulu
Huddle | Kaltura | ModiFace Cognitive Code

Fail
Joost | Twitter | Zillow | Chumby eCirkit | Flock | Spock | Jobster Squidoo | Second Life

What it does: An e-learning tool which makes books available to students and teachers through a downloadable application. This lowers prices for readers, while enabling easy upgrades and cost-saving mechanisms for publishers. CafeScribe also adds a community in which notes, highlighted text and discussions can be shared amongst users, and research papers and bibliographies can be collaboratively created directly through CafeScribe.

Why it will succeed: CafeScribe provides an economical distribution alternative to publishers while encouraging academia and students to look beyond libraries, bookstores, and copy shops for textbooks and other class materials. The collaborative features of CafeScribe are great for school groups and scholars wanting to employ collaborative study methods. The tool is also extremely useful for individuals who want to better organize their notes.

Why it hasn't succeed yet: Even though the World Wide Web has its roots in university computing labs, academia is still very attached to a 15th century publishing technology -- printed books. This has slowed adoption of CafeScribe and other Web 2.0 tools on college campuses. CafeScribe has also experienced resistance from publishers, which still depend on traditional textbook distribution models for revenue. Nevertheless, the digital, collaborative approach is inevitable considering technological progress, demographic trends, and the increasing willingness of educators to leverage knowledge-sharing across the Web.

'Net views:

Profy: "Overall, this looks like a promising service that could help many college students go a lot easier on their wallets this semester. All I am waiting for is a larger selection of books."

AppScout: "CafeScribe...hopes to make it easier for students to download their textbooks instead of carry them around (and save both trees and students' money in the process."

CapitalResin: "As profs rarely change books or test material, it's a way to get ahead in the class."

Management: Bryce Johnson, President and CEO.

Related prediction:

Prediction: CafeScribe acquired by October 2009

Other related content:

Slideshow home: Opinion: 10 'Net services that will succeed (and 10 that will probably fail)

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