Flat World Knowledge: a revolutionary experiment in textbooks

Today's Chronicle of Higher Education has a story about a fledgling company called Flat World Knowledge that is taking a new approach to textbook publishing. According to their website, "We set out to solve problems – the silly cost and inflexible nature of textbooks, the lack of choice for students, and others." Their plan is to offer textbooks free online, and allow allow instructors to freely use the textbooks to mix, mash, and make their own. The books will include images, audio and video. The full commercial launch of their products is scheduled for 2009; until then, you can watch their videos about flatworld and sign up to receive progress reports. Their motto is Because great minds are evenly distributed. Great textbooks are not.