Dr. Constance Ledoux Book’s “Digital Television: DTV and the Consumer” is now available from Blackwell Publishing (formerly Iowa State University Press). The 286-page book is part of Blackwell’s Media and Technology Series, edited by Alan Albarran of the University of North Texas. Other books in the series include “Managing Media Convergence,” “Digital Dilemmas: Ethical Issues for Online Media Professionals,” “Reporting and Producing for Digital Media” and “Online Privacy.”
“Book clearly defines digital television and the development of this exciting new form of video information and entertainment in the opening chapters and addresses the role of the public interest with the emergence of digital television,” Albarran writes in the foreword to “Digital Television.” “But this is more than a book that examines the history, development and usage of digital television. The author also covers many important issues that intersect with the growth of digital television: the impact on cable television, the integration of a personal computer/television reception device and the effect on public broadcasting.”
Book, an associate professor in the School of Communications, based a great deal of “Digital Television” on her research studies analyzing the adoption and utilization of digital television. She is one of the few scholars to examine DTV behaviors among audiences. Her studies have been awarded first place five out of the past six years in the Broadcast Education Association’s annual competition.
“Her work is at a fascinating intersection,” said Paul Parsons, dean of Elon’s School of Communications. “Books are among the oldest forms of communication and digital television is one of the newest communication technologies. It’s exciting for a dean to see faculty members engaged in innovative scholarship that reaches audiences and libraries in the permanent form of a book.”
In addition to reflecting a symbiosis of digital television history and Book’s research, the text includes a series of “innovator essays,” short excerpts written by key broadcast industry people who have had some influence in the development or impact of digital television. Among the innovators is Jim Goodmon, president and chief executive officer of Capitol Broadcasting, a pioneering broadcast business based in Raleigh.
Book works as a consultant in digital television and cable communications, policy and regulation and has been lead researcher on cable television and other technology in numerous municipalities including Detroit, Denver, Milwaukee, Seattle, St. Paul and Montgomery County, Maryland.