Reinventing Nature Field Guides: a History of iBird Explorer
iBird Explorer is the first of a new breed of electronic books
that reinvent how we consume reference information. It has been
developed to take full advantage of the rich media, high-quality
graphics, and computer processing power of the iPhone and iPod
touch mobile computing platforms. With a sophisticated database-
driven search engine and fast access to facts, illustrations,
photos, and playable bird calls, iBird Explorer putts the
equivalent of over 4,000 pages of expert birding information in
your pocket. In 1996, after selling his publishing company,
Mitch Waite walked away from the technology business intent on
focusing on his passion for nature. But after a hike on Mount
Tamalpais, near his home in Marin County, California, his mind
turned to the application of technology and how it might solve a
perennial problem for birders. Next to a good pair of
binoculars, a field guide is the most essential accessory for
any birder. Originally develope