Proboscis is developing an online web application allowing visitors to the DIFFUSION website to create their own DIFFUSION eBooks. A proof-of-concept prototype was developed in summer 2003 and work on a full working system (database driven content management system with on-the-fly eBook previewing and print-to-PDF) started in July 2004.
Proboscis began an alpha trial of the Generator Version 1 in March 2006. A second alpha trial (with image embedding) begins in October 2006, with a wider public beta trial planned for Spring 2007. If you would like to participate in the public beta trial please join the Proboscis Announcements Mailing List.
The aim is to extend the usefulness and accessibility of the DIFFUSION publishing format beyond designers with access to dedicated desktop publishing software – to create an online community tool that is useable by anyone with access to the internet.
Development
Team: Giles Lane, Sarah Thelwall & Phil Ayres
Initial Prototype Development: Giles Lane, Diab Al-Kudairi & Marcel
Weiher
The Generator is being written in Zope
& Python using
ReportLab.
The DIFFUSION format is extremely flexible and can be used in many ways, such as for:
- publishing essays, short stories or poems
- creating simple, easy to distribute manuals and instructions
- distributing lecture notes to students
- creating a portable family picture album
- creating a visual record of a journey
- making a personal diary or journal
- electronic portfolios for artists
- anthropology / ethnography notebooks & diaries for fieldwork
- local newsletters or pamphlets
- an iterative tool for brainstorming & innovation workshop
Please
note that the Generator is not available to the public yet
– we plan to launch a public version in Spring 2007.
To
be notified when the prototype begins testing, please join the Proboscis
Announcements
Mailing List
Proboscis is investigating different service models that would allow for different levels of use according to users needs.
PERSONAL
USERS (one-time):
Proboscis anticipates some users will want to use the service simply to
create one-off eBooks from a standard template provided by Proboscis.
This level of service will not require registration and will be anonymous.
Users will simply be able to paste text and images into a template, preview
and generate a PDF of their eBook. The server will not store their content
nor a copy of their finished eBook, but they will be bale to browse the
online library of publicly accessible eBooks created by other users. This
level of service will be free.
PERSONAL
USERS (account holders):
Proboscis anticipates other users will want to use the service to create
multiple eBooks over time, or to . This level of service will require
registration for an account. Users will be allocated an amount of server
space (to be confirmed) where they can store their content as well as
their finished eBooks. Users will be able to share their eBooks as well
as to create and share personal libraries of favourite eBooks. We aim
to keep this level of service free (depending on numbers of users and
bandwidth used).
INSTITUTIONAL
USERS (standard):
Proboscis will allow non-profit institutions to set up accounts with an
allocation of server space to create and store multiple eBooks and related
content. Users will be able to share their eBooks as well as to create
and share personal libraries of favourite eBooks. We aim to keep this
level of service free (depending on numbers of users and bandwidth used).
COMMERCIAL
/ INSTITUTIONAL USERS (professional):
Some commercial organisations and non-profit institutions may wish to
design their own eBook templates and publish regular series or titles
as eBooks. Proboscis will develop a charging plan opening up template
design tools and server space allocations according to need. We propose
that this, more professional, level of service will help subsidise the
maintenance and development of the service.
The DIFFUSION eBook Generator is a self-funded project developed by Proboscis. We welcome donations of any amount to support the development of this tool and our continued ability to publish DIFFUSION eBooks as a free resource. Please click the button below to make a secure donation by credit card or Paypal (no account necessary):
Proboscis' long term plan is to make the code for creating the Generator available to others to design and create their own eBook Generators under a Creative Commons License.
Proboscis particularly hopes to find partners who may be able to develop other language versions of the Generator to widen the potential uses and user base of the Generator beyond the English-speaking world.
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This
work is licensed under a Creative
Commons License. Privacy Policy | Acceptable Use Policy Last updated October 10, 2006 |
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