Kiwi firm set to write new global chapter

Roger Shakes shows off a QBook on the Apple iPad. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The worldwide release of the iPad will see New Zealand children's literature translated into numerous languages and operating on a global scale never seen before, Kiwa Media says.

The Auckland-based business is believed to be the first company in the world to have created an interactive, touchsmart and voice-activated application of children's books for Apple devices.

Kiwa Media transforms printed books into digital content that can be downloaded from iTunes.

The company's QBook technology is available for iPod and iPod Touches and the iPad version of That's Not Junk is awaiting approval from Apple.

Kiwa Media vice-president Roger Shakes said the business hoped to have about 500 ebooks available for the iPad by Christmas.

"The challenge for all publishers is how to get this [printed] content on to a digital platform." said Shakes.

"Kindle is just in black and white, text format. QBook is in colour and has core functions, it spells words out, it's interactive. It makes [the story] come alive. It has the same layout and page numbers as the printed edition."

The ebooks allow children to run their fingers across the voice-activated text and read with it at their own speed.

If you double-click on a word it will spell it out and definitions are also available. Parents can also record a version of their own voice to read back to their children.

Penguin New Zealand is working with Kiwa Media to digitise its children's books.

Penguin's ebooks are available in English, Maori, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese and soon Mandarin.

"The ebook market is growing rapidly. Ebooks are going to outsell paperbacks in five years' time," said Shakes.

"The language features will expand Kiwi books into markets where they haven't been before. Barnaby Bennett, a Kiwi book, will now be a Japanese book."

Shakes said the iPad was a "game changer" and anyone who doesn't think it is isn't in the "game".

The Qbook technology has been written under patented software, meaning any rival company that creates the same application will be infringing on the company's copyright.

Shakes said this placed the company and New Zealand children's literature on the world stage where the traditional barriers of selling books into foreign markets no longer applied.

"The iPad will give us a global position, a worldwide market where books are not only available to four million Kiwis but 750 million iPhone and iPad users," Shakes said.

Penguin New Zealand general manager Jeff Atkinson said ebooks would ensure revenue created from Kiwi books would remain in New Zealand.

He said that if a New Zealand ebook was downloaded from iTunes in Britain the revenue would be kept by the New Zealand publishers.

"What's fascinating is the global spread of countries you would never be able to sell a book into that are buying the ebooks," Atkinson said.

"Consumers are now all around the world, not just New Zealand, and all the revenue will come back to New Zealand."

The QBooks are selling on iTunes for the iPod and iPod Touch. The iPad versions will be available soon. The iPad is expected to go on sale here in July.