However, thanks to the world of digital technology this is now possible.

Using a personal digital assistant (PDA), you can turn the device into an electronic book, loading up whatever you want to read.

With the aim of encouraging people to read more, ThaiSoftware Enterprise, a local software developer, has developed a set of electronic-book software to help publishers convert their conventional content into electronic content, allowing readers to read on an electronic device.

Although the concept of the "e-book", or electronic book, is not new, the company's managing director Somporn Maneerata-nakul said what makes this development different from similar software is that it supports Thai language completely.

"Though other electronic-book software, which is all from aboard, can display Thai, it still has a problem with word segmentation. Our software solves this," he said.

Called Plakat eBook, the first Thai electronic-book software comprises two main programs, Plakat eBook Editor and Plakat eBook Reader for Pocket PC.

Plakat eBook Editor is designed to help publishers create an electronic-book while Plakat eBook Reader is for displaying electronic content in a reader-friendly style on a Pocket PC. "Readers can read all content on the device as though they are reading a book. They can mark the page, change fonts or underline any sentences they want to stress on the page, just like you can with a regular book," he said.

To make the experience as easy as possible, the company has also provided Thai and English dictionaries to allow readers to easily search for meanings of words.

Somporn said they plan to license the editor programme to publishers. Potential readers can download the programme free at www.thaiebook.org

After eight months of development, the company completed the commercial version of the programme last month.

It received funding from the National Science and Technology Development Agency through the Industrial Technology Assistance Programme (ITAP), which provided a Bt200,000 grant as well as technical support during development.

Somporn said with local development the company hopes local publishers can save money compared to licensing software from aboard, which will help import substitution for the country as a whole.

ThaiSoftware Enterprise is in discussion with several local publishers keen to develop the electronic-book business in Thailand. It hopes to see commercial electronic-books under the Plakat platform on the market by the end of the year.

Around 30 electronic books are already available for free download at the company's website (www.thaiebook.org) and it plans to add more. He said the company also plans to develop its reader for use on Windows-based PCs and mobile phones as well. These are expected to come out by the end of the year and early next year respectively.

The company is also in talks with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) about licensing Nectec's text-to-speech technology to use in the next stage of development. This technology will allow users to listen to the content of a book instead of reading it, for greater convenience, Somporn said.

Pongpen Sutharoj 

The Nation