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Michael Rosenwald writes in the WaPot that textbook makers, bookstore owners and college student surveys all say millennials still strongly prefer reading on paper for pleasure and learning, a bias that surprises reading experts given the same group’s proclivity to consume most other content digitally. “These are people who aren’t supposed to remember what it’s like to even smell books,” says Naomi S. Baron. “It’s quite astounding.” Earlier this month, Baron published “Words Onscreen: The Fate of Reading in a Digital World,” a book that examines university students’ preferences for print and explains the science of why dead-tree versions are often superior to digital. Her conclusion: readers tend to skim on screens, distraction is inevitable and comprehension suffers. Researchers say readers remember the location of information simply by page and text layout — that, say, the key piece of dialogue was on that page early in the book with that one long paragraph and a smudge on the corner. Researchers think this plays a key role in comprehension - something that is more difficult on screens, primarily because the time we devote to reading online is usually spent scanning and skimming, with few places (or little time) for mental markers.
Another significant problem, especially for college students, is distraction. The lives of millennials are increasingly lived on screens. In her surveys, Baron writes that she found “jaw-dropping” results to the question of whether students were more likely to multitask in hard copy (1 percent) vs. reading on-screen (90 percent). "The explanation is hardly rocket science," says Baron. "When a digital device has an Internet connection, it’s hard to resist the temptation to jump ship: I’ll just respond to that text I heard come in, check the headlines, order those boots that are on sale." “You just get so distracted,” one student says. “It’s like if I finish a paragraph, I’ll go on Tumblr, and then three hours later you’re still not done with reading.”
(Score: 4, Insightful) by frojack on Wednesday February 25 2015, @10:32PM
See, I'm just the opposite. Tech books, I need paper, so I can scrawl on it.
I dislike, (but completely understand) software or hardware manuals in PDF form, because you can't easily zip from place to place.
And reading history that has many maps is a nightmare on an e-reader.
But regular reading, for enjoyment, give the an ereader every time. Oh, and make it e-ink please.
Nothing messes up your sleep worse than staring at light emitting screens late into the night.
Reading a physical book with one hand, or no hands? Great.
Irritating font? Change it.
Forgot your ereader at home, pick up exactly where you left off on your phone.
No, for casual reading anywhere, anytime, give me an ereader every time, and take these moldering paperbacks out of my sight.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by stormwyrm on Thursday February 26 2015, @12:13AM
For tech books, paper may be nice, but electronic editions offer something that can be really valuable: the ability to quickly search for specific information. Finding out where a massive manual mentions how to do X is relatively easy with a properly built PDF, but can be incredibly clumsy with paper.
Numquam ponenda est pluralitas sine necessitate.
(Score: 2) by frojack on Thursday February 26 2015, @01:52AM
True, search is nice, as long as your reading platform lets you quickly bookmark your present position so that you can return.
A physical book with a good index, and a few extra fingers to retain your current page works too. I've noticed that PDFs seem to dispense with indexes, relying on search capability.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 0) by Balderdash on Thursday February 26 2015, @03:28AM
I use an early 7 inch Android tablet to read for pleasure.
Cool Reader in night mode works very well. Black background with light gray text doesn't seem to interfere with sleep as much as a white background and black text.
I browse at -1. Free and open discourse requires consideration and review of all attempts at participation.