Customized Digital Books on Demand, Issues in the creation of a flexible document format

Abstract

Articles dealing with documents on demand tend to presume a static digital format, i.e., a scanned page. In contrast, this article discusses a flexible document format subject to user specification based on particular reading needs or habits. The author argues for digitally created masters which ensure access to old, rare, out-of-print or otherwise inaccessible information at the same time they authenticate the accuracy of the data. Issues relating to format construction, the implications for the user/reader and the publisher/service bureau are explored.