TouchSmart Publishing and SOCHE Announce Strategic Alliance

TouchSmart Publishing, LLC and the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) announced a strategic alliance to investigate ways to reduce textbook costs in higher education.

Cincinnati, OH (PRWEB) July 5, 2004 -- TouchSmart Publishing, LLC and the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) announced a strategic alliance to investigate ways to reduce textbook costs in higher education.

According to Jason Barkeloo, President of TouchSmart Publishing, "textbook costs are rising fast." A recent Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) study indicates students are borrowing more money to meet this increasing demand. Barkeloo added that, "our interactive wireless textbooks connecting to digital content may help reduce the costs of textbooks to its consortium members. Sean Creighton, Executive Director of SOCHE, reinforced the alliance by adding that, "SOCHE is pleased to work with such a forward-leaning organization as TouchSmart in reducing textbook costs for students in our region."

Barkeloo says that "students can press pictures and words on the paper which enables the connection, the back-end digital content is incredibly important." The Touch User interface(TUI)technology connects paper directly to digital content that can reside on optical media, the Internet, or hard-drives. As a result, the weight and number of printed pages in the book are reduced as well as the associated costs.

Furthermore, SOCHE is concerned with increasing participation in higher education for those with access concerns and feels this technology could help disability services departments. According to Creighton, "This TUI-based technology shows promise in increasing accessibility. The SOCHE and TouchSmart alliance is a step in advocating for student success and in-line with the Governors Commission on Higher Education and the Economy report."

About TouchSmart Publishing, LLC.

TouchSmart Publishing is a developmental-stage company with the exclusive license to develop and distribute touch-sensitive books to the K-12 math, science, and special education students. The Company's mission is to create and distribute exciting and accessible interactive textbooks that connect to digital content by touching pages in a book. TouchSmart Publishing provides a bridge over the digital divide for more students, regardless of learning style, special needs or socioeconomic position. For more information, please visit the TouchSmart Publishing web site at http://www.touchsmart.net .

About SOCHE

Formed in 1967, the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE) is a regional consortium of colleges, universities, and business advancing higher education through academic collaboration, corporate and community partnerships, and student success. SOCHE's initiatives include cross-registration between member schools, a student research programs at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, degree finder for prospective students, cost savings programs, and continuous improvement conferences. For more information, visit www.soche.org .

Contact:

TouchSmart Publishing, LLC

Jason Barkeloo, 513.225.8765

jbarkeloo@touchsmart.net

SOCHE

Sean Creighton, 937.258.8890

sean.creighton@soche.org

Source: TouchSmart Publishing, LLC

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