WEBVTT 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (KR Information Design Lab The Tablet Newspaper: A vision for the Future © Copyright 1994 Knight-Ridder, Inc) [Printing noise] 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] For more than 500 years, ink printed on paper has been the best medium 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 for delivering written information. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But as the world becomes increasingly digital, all that is changing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Here, at the Knight-Ridder information design lab in Boulder, Colorado, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 a team of journalists, designers, technologists and researchers 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is putting together the tools that will take today's newspaper into the electronic age. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Roger Fidler] We will have the interactive graphic now. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So, when you click on the graphical animate on the front page, or you click on the story (?) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [off voice] Roger Fidler established the lab for Knight-Ridder in the Fall of 1992. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Today, he serves as its director. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Fidler] All human communication systems are undergoing a transformation -- 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 from one form to another. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And that's all being brought about by emergent technologies and by cultural changes. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Now, several years ago, I coined the word "mediamorphosis" to describe this transformation. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Newspapers are certainly going through that now, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but all forms of media that we know today will be transformed over the next 10, 15 years. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [off voice, male] The transforming inventions are of course the computer and digital telecommunications, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We're finding that our capacity to be able to process and deliver information 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 through information superhighways and computer systems, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 are increasing in efficiency and they're resulting in reduced costs for publishing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I do believe that for the first time, we're going to begin seeing an alternative to ink on paper. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It may be difficult to conceptualize, the idea of digital paper, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but in fact, we believe that that's what's going to happen. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Fidler] Ideal is (? 1:54) is a media think-tank: 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 we bring people to the lab to give us more insights into the developments of technologies 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and particularly, digital technologies and digital communication. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Our role is to investigate the opportunities that may be there for newspaper companies 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 over the next few years 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and to also try to develop a long-range vision of where the newspaper industry is headed 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 over the next 5, 10, 20 years. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] An important part of this evolution is the emergence of the electronic tablet. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This device is under development at consumer electronic companies around the world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Tablets will be a whole new class of computers. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They'll weigh under two pounds. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They'll be totally portable. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They'll have a clarity of screen display comparable to ink on paper. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They'll be able to blend text, video, audio and graphics together. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And they'll be part of our daily lives around the turn of this century. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We may still use computers to create information, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but we'll use the tablet to interact with information: reading, watching, listening. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Fidler] Our goal here, at the Information Design Lab, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is to develop the appropriate interfaces and appropriate technologies, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so that when we actually do produce electronic editions of newspapers for these tablets, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that we could hand it to you and you would immediately know how to use the ..... 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 because it looks familiar to you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In fact, what we are doing is building a bridge of familiarity. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 When we talk about human communication systems, what we discover throughout history 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 is that they have evolved and new forms tend to take on many of the characteristics of older forms 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 for some period of time. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Over time, of course, they do evolve and take on their own characteristics. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I believe the same thing will happen in our transition 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 from ink on paper to digital forms of newspapers and magazines and books. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But in the beginning, they will retain many of the familiar characteristics of print products today. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And I think that's absolutely essential. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We don't want to have to issue people manuals to read their newspaper. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You already know how to read a newspaper, you know how to turn pages, pull out a section, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 find things that are interesting to you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We can enhance that with electronic technology and make it much more useful 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and add value to it. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But we believe we have to build a bridge of familiarity first, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to get us from the ink on paper product into the digital world. (4:28) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [off voice, female] Let's take a closer look at the Information Design Lab's vision 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 of the electronic newspaper of the future. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 On first glance, it looks just like a printed newspaper. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In fact, you can browse stories and turn pages just as you would on paper. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But if a story interests you, you can read it more deeply. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Suppose this story about Bosnia catches your attention. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Just touch the text, and the full story appears. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 What you read is no longer limited to the physical constraints 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 of the printing press and production process. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 A story is edited for content and completeness, not for news ..... (? 5:10) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And the tablet newspaper extends communication beyond the written word. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Touch the map, and it comes alive, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 using the tools of sound and animation to tell the story. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, male] To understand the land divisions proposed today, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 one must look at how the diverse cultures of the Balkans, recently, were part of Yugoslavia, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 which formerly held a prominent position in Central Europe. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] Access to information concerns everyone. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This vision of an electronic newspaper lets its readers move beyond physical barriers. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 If you can't read small type, enlarge it until the type size feels comfortable for you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Tablet newspapers can also combine video and audio clips with written stories. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 For example, in this sports story, sound bites and instant replays mean 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 you don't have to worry about missing that exciting play. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [off voice, male] The whole play is gone. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's close (?) in the air (6:10) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 it might be .... the score 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 ... a great arm 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Here comes the .... here comes the.... (6:20) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 .... he never got to the ..... 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Woman] Hey, look at this! 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Male voice 6:25]... swing the bat here, the double play is gone(?) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [off voice other male (6:28)] It goes in the air, it might ... the score .... that underneath (6:32) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] And unlike television, you can watch it as many time as you want, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 or slow the video down to look at just one frame. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [off voice, some male (6:40)] ... strikes the baseball, and ... is gone down and that is how... (6:45) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] The tablet paper even flags items of special interest to you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We've included a personal profile page where you can tell the newspaper 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to find ads or stories that march your interests. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You can see an index of the entire newspaper with items that match your special interests highlighted, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 turn to a set of abstracts that match your personal profile, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and jump from the index or the abstract to the full story. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 But moving to a new form doesn't mean you should give up anything, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 including the ability to save and share pieces of the newspaper. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Just like the printed form, with the tablet newspaper, you can clip and save articles, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 or send them electronically to a friend. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 You can do all this without using a manual, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 because everyone already understands how a newspaper works. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 One of the things that helps readers navigate through the newspaper is its familiar look and feel. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We know how to find everything in our newspaper, it's the one we read everyday. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Retaining that look and feel is very important, because people don't buy generic news. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They buy a specific newspaper with a branded identity. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Fidler] For most people, a newspaper is like a friend. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's somebody you know, you have come to trust. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Over the last 15 years, there have been many attempts to develop electronic newspapers 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and many of the technologists who have been pursuing these objectives 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 assume that information is simply a commodity 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and people really don't care where that information comes from 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 as long as it matches their set of personal interests. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 I disagree with that view. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 People recognize the newspapers they subscribe to. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 They don't even have to see the name on the name plate. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 If it is on a news stand, they immediately recognize the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 or Philadelphia Inquirer. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And it's also true for the local newspapers in small towns. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And there is a loyalty attached to those - those names. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 When you buy that newspaper and you go to the newspaper, you know how it's organized. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It feels comfortable to you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] Advertising is an important of the Knight Ridder model. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It helps underwrite the cost of the newspaper, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 making the news accessible to everyone -- plus, people like advertising. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It's a part of the local information package and at times, it can be as important as the news itself. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Most people want to know what's on sale this week at the department store, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and they want to clip the Sunday coupons. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The tablet newspaper takes advertising to new dimensions, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 making the ad more useful to readers who are interested in it, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 without annoying readers who aren't at all interested in it. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Just as you can go deeper into a story, you can go deeper into an ad. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 Plus, the tablet has two-way communication's capability. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So you can buy and sell electronically, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 make reservations, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 or request more information. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Ridler] Well, you have to think of ads somewhat differently in electronic publishing. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In a sense, the are very much like a shopping center. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 In the print model, we find that, you know, you have a surface 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and it's a two-dimensional world, so what you see is what you get. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The advertiser presents their image or their sale 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but requires you then, after you've seen the ad, to go do something later with it. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Fidler, off] In the electronic world, we're really dealing with a tri-dimensional world. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 The advertising on the surface pages that you browse, just like a newspaper today, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 are in a sort of sense, the store front window. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 If I'm interested in that ad and want to know more, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 it's simply a matter of touching that ad, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and at that point, I go through an electronic doorway into the advertiser's space. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And in that space might be a video clip for 15 or 20 seconds, sort of a TV commercial, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but I'm in control. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] The tablet makes information 100% accessible. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 It goes where you go. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 If you don't want to read the paper, the tablet can read the stories to you. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [woman driver] Read story. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Speech-to-text] Geneva. Adopting the language and locale (? 11:07) of a bygone diplomatic era... 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Off voice, female] And you can get your news anywhere. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We envision kiosks that would download your publications onto electronic cards 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that go inside the tablet. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 So if you're doing business in Miami but your home town is Denver, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 you can still get your local paper delivered every morning. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 [Fidler] This is one of the most exciting places to be in the newspaper industry today. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 This is where, I think, we're going to play a role in changing - changing history. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 And the people that we have here, in our laboratory are creative, energetic, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and very concerned about the newspaper industry itself 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and how to build on the strength of the industry rather simply restarting all over again. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 There are many people who believe that newspapers are dinosaurs 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 and that they are going to become the road kill on the information super-highway in a not too distant future. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We believe exactly the opposite. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 We believe that newspapers, in fact, can evolve into a new form of media 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 that blends the old familiar aspects of a newspaper with the new technologies that are emerging, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 so that you have the ability to read and browse and scan, as we do today, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 but at the same time, being able to interact with the newspaper, 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 to interact with advertisers through your newspaper 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 in ways that are not possible in print media today. 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Presented by Knight-Ridder, Inc.) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Producer Brian Doubleday) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Script Teresa A. Martin) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Camera Brad Wallace) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Editor Izzie Jimenez) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Off-line Editor Lily Gabriel) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Associate Producers Deborah Fellner Bill Skeet) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Thanks to KRT News In Motion - National Hunior College Athletic Association) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Clarion Harvest House, Boulder, Colorado) 99:59:59.999 --> 99:59:59.999 (Executive Producer Teresa A. Martin)