TOOL KIT FOR CREATING MULTIPLATFORM ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOKS
A software package kBookArgo, that allows a user with minimal IT-competence to produce multimedia driven textbooks working on any mobile platforms, is described. The existing digital books were mostly created for working on personal computers or networking. For technical reasons they do not operate or are not fully operational on mobile devices. After analyzing created for these purposes software packages we came to conclusion that none of them satisfies all the capabilities mobile platforms have. Primarily Apple was concerned with the problem of creating educational resources capable for working on mobile devices and so they developed iBook Author software package. However, both the package and the generated books are available only for iOS on iPad, iPhone and iMac. Necessary functions in software package Interactive eBook Authoring by Kotobee Company are presented on the website only as promising or not mentioned at all. All the other packages we have studied are different file format converters and are directed primarily at textbook setting with having a key point of making the book fancy. Almost all these software packages allow converting textbooks into files of common formats (FB2, EPUB, PDF, DJVU, MOBI, DOC, RTF etc.) which can work on various devices. However, not all the formats are suitable for science and technical content textbooks. For instance, common formats FB2, EPUB and MOBI are incapable for showing formulas composed in Microsoft Equation or Math Type. It is only possible to insert them as figures. Besides all the software mentioned above make it possible to generate only the textbook and do not contain the possibility for networking mode of a group of mobile devices with installed textbooks. The algorithm for generating a textbook from ready-made text, graphic, audio and video blocks is similar to the ideology of the LEGO designer. It is possible to connect 3D models and insert complex mathematical formulas. A teacher with the help of the server can manage the work of a group of mobile devices with installed textbooks, united with a Wi-Fi network. This software will allow the teacher to arrange the work together with a group in the local network passing to a new modern innovative level with the possibility of group testing, home task checking and etc. Shifting to the usage of digital books makes the educational process much more dynamic. In addition to the standard paper books, a pupil will use digital books installed in one device. This significantly reduces the size and weight of the books carried by a pupil and makes it possible to move up to an innovative level. Creating similar multimedia digital books enables the usage of a new generation educational resources. This concept does not mean the reduction of standard paper books. A digital book is a supplement to a paper one. The textbook is generated on any computer with OS Windows, iOS or Android without any refinements. A software package consists of four mutually supportive modules: kArgoCreator, kArgoWorkplace and kArgoServer. The completed software has the interface used in smartphones and tablet Pcs. To ensure continuity the kArgoCreator, kArgoWorkplace and kArgoServer modules of the kBookArgo software complex can work not only on modern Pcs, but also on older Pcs running OS Windows 7 and upwards. The operation of the textbook is provided by kArgoViewer. The Internet is used only for downloading and after that the textbook becomes completely autononmous.