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