‘Book worms’ unmoved by e-readers

Debate is divided on whether to abandon paper books and embrace e-readers. The storyline has been that e-readers bring convenience and a touch of class. E-books are easy to buy and are portable compared to paper books: a portable little e-reader can carry an entire library.

As long as you have a wi-fi connection, you can buy and read whatever book you want to. In fact, books on an e-reader tend to be cheaper than traditional books, because digital books don’t require space and associated logistics.

Lots of classic novels, for example, are free on e-readers such as kindles. Lots of other not-classic books are also free on the Kindle, although they may not suit your literary taste.

DYSLEXIA

You can multi-task as you read from your kindle, a feat difficult to achieve while reading a paper book. A paper book require the use of both hands to hold and turn pages, but one can use one hand on an e-reader.

People with poor eyesight or reading disorders like dyslexia can benefit more from e-books because they provide a range of options for changing the text size and spacing of lines. An e-reader can also be a solution to perennial book-borrowers who never return them.

With these salient and sensible features, one would imagine that digital books would beat their paper counterparts, hands down. Studies paint a different picture: the sales for digital books have remained stagnant whereas the sales for paper books have been climbing.

UNRUFFLED

Here are some possible reasons why traditional books remain unruffled. Many studies hold that reading paper books increase comprehension. They suggest that reading on paper instead of an electronic screen is better for memory retention and focus.

There is an describable feeling one experiences when reading printed book; you consciously or subconsciously track your progress by sensing the ratio of the pages read to the pages yet to be read.

The tactile motivation you get as pages on the left side of the book increase as you thumb to the end of the book.

Many readers also prefer the paper books because they can highlight, book mark, dog-ear and annotate text. E-books often allow the digital equivalents of these acts - but they just aren’t the same. There is a link between physical gestures and cognition: the things we do to print books seem to help us to understand and remember better.

LIMINANCE

Paper books have an aesthetic value: the look, the smell, and the feel of a book held in the hand. Readers may not want to give up the sensory experience of reading from a paper book. Others, seeing the books arranged in their home library reminds them of their intellectual journey, and adds steam to their desire for more reading.

Reading a paper book in bed is one of the age-old ways of inviting sleep. In the contrary, high levels of screen luminance from an electronic device can contribute to visual fatigue, a condition marked by tired, itching, burning of the eyes.

Thieves don’t steal books. I’m yet to hear of a complain that thieves broke into a car or a house with the sole aim of stealing paper books. I would not say the same for iPads, Kindles or other e-book readers.

GENERATIONAL

The choice between a digital and a paper book is a matter of personal taste and style. Avid traditional book readers have a visceral attachment to their books. No amount of enticing seems compelling enough to move them to e-books –if the sales numbers is a good indicator.

The difference between diehard paper book readers and digital book readers maybe generational. The younger readers, and especially males are inclined to e-readers. Ravenous readers would argue that digital or paper is neither here nor there. What matters is reading.

The writer is an informatics specialist. [email protected] @samwambugu2