It's a sad, sad day for tactile bibliophiles and book lovers. The new age question, "Which is better: paper books or e-books?" has been answered, and e-books are the winners!
Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany sought to address the skepticism often associated with e-books and electronic readers. Many people believe that reading from an e-ink (e.g., Kindle) or tablet pc (e.g., iPad) screen can be bad for your eyes or produce other negative health effects.
The study tested the three forms of media (paper text, tablet pc, e-ink reader) on groups of young and old readers (the majority of whom said they preferred reading from a printed book the best) and used the following criteria to analyze and measure the differences in the media: frequency band power, reading behavior, text comprehension and information recall.
So what did they find?
Not only were there no disadvantages to reading from electronic reading devices compared to paper text, but the study showed that some participants were able to read faster when using the tablet.
Researchers also found that e-ink readers came in second to tablets in terms of readability and ease, citing "the information is processed more easily when a tablet PC is employed."
Dr. Matthias Schlesewsky, head of the study, touted the results, "We have thus demonstrated that the subjective preference for the printed book is not an indicator of how fast and how well the information is processed."
While the results of this study are certainly a boon for e-books and its marketers, I have to wonder what is more powerful in making decisions: our preferences or "facts" from scientific studies.
Even though e-books may offer some advantages—if I absolutely love paperbacks—I probably wont give e-books a chance, right?
I used to be someone who only preferred the tactility of holding a book. I liked turning the pages and being able to see how much of a book I had already read or had left to read. I like being able to see what books others are reading as well. For example, I saw a man reading a Haruki Murakami book on the bus a few weeks ago, and I knew instantly that we were kindred spirits.
But then, a friend of mine gave me a Kindle for my birthday recently- and I grew to appreciate the comfort and ease of e-ink. What took longest to get used to was holding the device- my desire to turn a page was still very much instilled- but eventually, it became quite effortless. So far, I have purchased a few e-books for the Kindle. It's especially convenient for when you don't want to lug around a 900-page book (a startling two pounds!) on North Korea, which for me, is, always.
However, I have not stopped buying or reading paper books either. In fact, I buy paper books (especially hardbacks) more often than e-books. They are usually copies of my favorite novels-books that I know I will read or tell everyone I've read countless times. I still have an irrational urge to buy every paper copy of "Catcher in the Rye" and "The World According to Garp" that I find.
Of course you can read e-books multiple times as well, but I feel the experience is a little different. Finding and removing a book from the shelf offers a different experience than clicking a button. And it is the former, I prefer.
Perhaps, I am simply nostalgic. After all, I was one of the last generations to grow up with printed books only, and I reminisce fondly on the
memories of my family's extensive Baby-Sitters' Club and R.L. Stein book collections while growing up.
At a restaurant, I recently saw two children—at most 5 and 6 years old—each with their very own iPad. For them, they may never experience growing up with paper books. And I believe that they are the ideal audience for this study: People who don't already have a special connection or attachment to printed books.
For the rest of us, the results don't matter so much. We may fool around with the Kindle once in a while, but we will never leave our first love of turning pages in a beloved book.
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Source:
Universität Mainz (2011, October 20). Reading a book versus a screen: Different reading devices, different modes of reading?.ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 22, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­
