PAPER VS EBOOK( CONT’ D)
Search the internet, and you will find a volume of arguments for and against e-readers. Taking all of this into consideration, there is no definitive data yet on whether e-readers will actually replace paper books or not.
Taking a shot in the dark( to use a cliché), while e-readers will certainly grab a significant share of the book market, they may not replace paper books for the following reasons:
Backlight and adjustable font can indeed help reading, but consider this: the very same backlight has been known to already cause maladies such as computer vision syndrome. However, with ample precautions( blinking more often, taking breaks, periodic eye checkups etc.), this drawback of digital readers could be overcome.
When reading a paper book, one can easily flip the pages to refer to something that appeared earlier or will appear later in the book. Random flipping is difficult with an e-reader because the person has to repeatedly press buttons or swipe the screen to find a particular passage. In non-fiction, with the need for constant reference to earlier content, that could be a serious problem in e-readers.
Still, the assumption that e-books may alter actual reading and a user’ s patterns of understanding is not really that serious of a concern. After all, either way, people are at least reading. Some studies indicate, people who read e-books seem to read more books than those who read paper books. But for many the adverse part of that perception is that in many instances shallow browsing appears to have replaced deep reading. Let’ s face it— with the introduction of new technology for every method of information delivery or communication— radio, television, computer, internet and social media,— in some way there has been a threat to the“ normal” reading habits. It is inevitable.
Reading requires an uninterrupted chunk of time and concentration so what is read can be analyzed and assimilated. Therefore, any intrusion— however brief— can disrupt the process.
Now consider instant messaging. Researchers from the Central Connecticut State University tested the effects of instant messaging on reading comprehension. In this study; one group of students read and responded to instant messages( IMs) while reading an online textbook. Another received an IM before reading, but not during, and the third group read the textbook without interruption. Students who were interrupted by IMs took significantly longer to read the passage and performed poorly on a test of their understanding compared to the other two groups.
So there it is. Each form has its pros and cons. As evidenced by steady print sales, while the share for eBooks might continue to grow, it is doubtful that print books will go the way of buggy whips. However, only the future has the answer.
WRITERS’ TRICKS OF THE TRADE
PAGE 9
WINTER 2017