Numbers, books & apps

Science - Pete Wilton | 15 Sep 10. When he came to write his latest book Oxford University's Marcus du Sautoy decided he wanted to go beyond the printed page. For The Num8er My5teries he created a series of 'apps' that enable iPhone users to explore the ideas and games within the book and recently wrote for The Guardian on what apps can bring to books. I asked Marcus about creating apps and how they can help to enrich the reading experience and communicate scientific ideas: OxSciBlog: Why did you create a gaming app for the Num8er My5teries? - Marcus du Sautoy: The Num8er My5teries is a book which tries to get the reader actively involved in playing with the mathematics. The book grew out of the Christmas Lectures that I did in 2006 for the Royal Institution and Channel Five. The aim of those lectures was to find ways to playfully engage people in doing and understanding science. I am a great advocate that mathematics is not a spectator sport and the best way to appreciate it is to play. It's one of the reasons that I have also been creating an internet maths school called mangahigh.com which aims to use online computer games to teach the GCSE curriculum. The publication of the book has come at a time when publishers are exploring the power of apps to supplement and enhance the reading experience. The published book of The Num8er My5teries is jam packed with experiments and games so exploring the use of apps to enhance the playful character of the book seemed an exciting prospect. OSB: What did you learn from making it?