Technologies develop rapidly and reach hurricane levels of velocity but quality E-Content and innovative applications lag behind. This book addresses the question how content industries change within a digital environment and what role information and communication technologies play in transforming the competitive landscape. The authors argue that post-industrial societies tend to pay substantial amounts for equipment and gadgets but invest far too little in the quality of the content. As a result, much effort is and has to be spent on the enhancement of E-Content.

The contributions give an elaborate overview of:- the specifics, challenges and prospects of content in the network economy;- market developments of digital media services;- paid content business models;- impacts on scientific publishing;- developments in the field of E-Learning;- the interplay between technology and content with the example of interactive digital TV;- the mobile games market;- emerging new cross media markets;- the need to enhance the usability of websites and mobile applications;- how digital applications might be used to capture and store our personal experiences.

A final chapter shows the prospects of the European E-Content market and gives an overview of valuable initiatives and resources dealing with the topic of E-Content.

E-Content in Europe: Dimensions of an Emerging Field.- E-Content Market in Europe An Overview.- The State of Digital Media Service Business.- Paid Content: From Free to Fee.- Content Applications: Selected Cases.- The Impact of E-Learning.- Scientific Publishing: A European Strength.- Mobile Games: An Emerging Content Business Area.- Cross-Media on the Advance.- User-Centric Content Production and Interaction.- Interactive Digital Television in Europe.- The Usability Factor: Improving the Quality of E-Content.- Experience Machines: Capturing and Retrieving Personal Content.- Outlook.- Prospects of E-Content in Europe.- A Guide to European Initiatives and Resources in E-Content.