|
Headline: Sabah's first 'e-book' tailored to tourism
Date Posted: 3/8/2003
By: KAN YAW CHONG,
Daily Express
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah could become a "laggard" and then finally "obsolete"
unless it acts to keep up with a fast changing world, said Assistant Minister of
Tourism, Environment, Science and Technology, Datuk Karim Haji Bujang.
"This is something quite new and I can assure you that in years to come
multimedia CDs will be as common as a cup of coffee," he said at the launching
of Sabah's first "e-book" entitled "Discovering Sabah Interactive Multimedia CD.
He added that the technology is already here to replace books, citing the
reality that huge volumes of book-form weighty encyclopedia can now be obtained
in the form of CDs.
The e-book is jointly published by Natural History Publications (Borneo) and KKIP Communications Sdn Bhd.
"Sabah is very lucky to have an outstanding natural history and tourism
publisher, Datuk CL Chan, for his vision and dedication to publish all
information concerning the immensely rich bio-diversity in Sabah and Borneo in
recent years," said Karim.
He hoped that more such CDs tailored to the tourism industry would be launched
in the future to help maintain the million mark tourist arrivals achieved last
year.
At the same time, Karim expressed concern that the rampant CD piracy in the
market place may prove very damaging to the investments and efforts put forth by
people like Chan.
Meanwhile, Chan said "Discovering Sabah" was first published as a coffee table
book in 2001 with the support of Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat and Sabah
Tourism Promotion Corporation (STPC) and it turned out to be "the most
successful" out of more than 70 books he had published.
"And because of its immense popularity, it was translated into Chinese and
Japanese languages," he said.
"My courage to produce this Interactive Multimedia CD on Discovering Sabah is,
however, derived from the constant encouragement of Datuk Tham Nyip Shen and the
favourable terms and conditions offered by my collaborator, KKIP
Communications," he said.
KKIP Communications Managing Director, Edwin Liew, said Discovery Sabah
Interactive Multimedia CD is a "prime example" of how information and
communication technology (ICT) can be utilised to deliver the same piece of
information and knowledge offered in a more interactive, lively and interesting
manner via the digital channel.
He said the fact that the contents of these physical, conventional printing
materials can be presented by using creative combination of graphics, sounds and
visual clips make them more lively and interesting.
Back
 |
