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Post by gregggagliardi on Feb 28, 2013 18:52:35 GMT -8
Just an idea.
Imagine a hub with spokes to satellites.
Reduce the size of "Freedom" to a basic climbing manual (hub) that contains essential, core information and techniques; essentially what we believe is necessary to be a good basic climber (follower). Add a series of more technical volumes to address specialty areas such as leading on rock, aid climbing, ice climbing, expeditions, rescue, weather forecasting, etc. These are the satellites. There are many possibilities here, some already realized in other Mountaineers' publication. Additional spokes can be readily added.
For both the hub manual and satellite books, provide a companion DVD that contains high quality videos that demonstrate every technique presented in the text.
Create a website that provides new information on technical matters that parallels the chapters in the books. Update it regularly.
Gregg
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Post by nicklyle on Mar 7, 2013 1:46:11 GMT -8
The scope of the current FOTH makes sense to me in that it provides depth and background that put the elements of the basic alpine climbing course in perspective by providing the broad context of climbing. This helps the beginning climber understand not only what to do, but why they should do it that way. As thick as it is, FOTH is still just an introductory text.
Where your hub and satellite, or sun and planets, model would work really well would be in the web site, or multi-media app edition of this material.
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Post by chrisdessert on Mar 7, 2013 11:59:38 GMT -8
It may be better to skip the DVD, which is about obsolete, and host the videos on the internet with special log in. That way these videos can be used in the courses, and viewed during lectures if need be for discussion. Make FOTH readily accessible with just an internet connection. It may be time to focus more resources on making the digital version FOTH as intergrated as possible with the web (ie hyperlinks on pages to website materials, etc)
I refer students to good instructional videos on the internet about just as much I do to instructional texts anyways. Thinking of my aid clinic and Chris McNamara's great instructional series on basic aid. FOTH would thrive if we looked at intergration now.
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Post by nicklyle on Mar 14, 2013 23:06:29 GMT -8
Right on Chris. This is the future, and I think the future starts some time next week. The problem for the publisher to solve is how to get paid for all this. Will there be a pay-wall? An App? Will people subscribe to the digital edition or supplement? Or will all this be just free added value that sells books and builds momentum until the day when digital multi-media subsumes traditional print texts?
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Post by gregggagliardi on Mar 17, 2013 17:21:40 GMT -8
Perhaps digital multi-media has already subsumed texts?
Perhaps today's books are more like a TV Guide in organizing and directing the inquirer's search.
What would a "Mountaineers' TV guide" look like?
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Post by nicklyle on Mar 24, 2013 18:05:42 GMT -8
This process is far from complete, and I hope there will always be a place for text-based books. There are still topics and areas of discussion best communicated though written language! Well written books by solo authors still tend to be more thorough, more concise and more efficient sources of information than much of what is found on line or in alternative media. On the other hand, multi media has it's own great strengths. A hybrid of multi media and traditional texts is likely to be the most potent way to convey complex subjects, and the platforms for doing so in user-friendly ways are fast developing.
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