|
Book lovers now have the option of reading electronically. Technology afforded by the e-book craze has made it possible for those over 40 years of age to enjoy comfortable, clear vision as never before. Millions of people already own a Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad, or another e-reader. Sales are estimated to be as high as 2.8 million e-readers sold as of this date. Spokespeople for Sony and Barnes and Noble agreed that the first target groups were heavy readers. However, they add that as the e-book prices become more affordable, a more general audience is expected.
Amazing stories have been recorded regarding success via e-books. For instance people with vision disabilities can check out titles on the instrument without assistance and can regulate the size of print on any given page. Plans are being formulated at this very moment by e-book makers to allow users to access others around the world who are reading the same book in order to discuss and exchange ideas with one another. Of course, not everyone sees it as a panacea for the literate world. Some see a lack of sensitivity and coldness in the concept. They ask, "Where is the feeling of intimacy with our books? Where are the memories attached with the books that we loved, the persons that we were at the time compared to the persons we are now?” Nevertheless, librarians feel that e-books have stimulated the public's reading habits.
In June, 2010, my wife bought a present for me. It was a Kindle (as in kindling the desire to know and firing up the curiosity factor). She knew I loved books and reading. It was easy to transport, being lighter and thinner than most of the burly books I carried back and forth. I can save 1500 books within this remarkable instrument, which solved my old problem of not enough space for all my physical books. There are many varieties of subject matter and 250,000 titles connected to every topic. Almost any book that has been published can be accessed by the e-book owner's sponsor and in seconds be made available to you. The Kindle is much more comfortable to carry on a trip than a 600 page book.
Many books are free and the paid ones are more affordable than one may suspect. Your credit card will reflect your purchases. An error in ordering can be solved by an easy cancellation method. A feature that is appreciated and allows one to make a better judgment before ordering the item is the ability to request a sample of a chapter or two of the book in which you are interested. All this without a trip to your local library. On the other hand, some book lovers look forward to the trip to a library, and find comfort with the smell and atmosphere that can only be created by books. You just can't install this warm, intimate feeling inside a flat electronic object that tends to intimidate us.
The quality of the printed books is maintained but many features are added that are made available through the digital technology such as dictionary capacity. You may wish to listen to music while reading your material. Of special interest to our eye care providers is the knowledge that text size can be changed according to individual preference. Some e- readers provide a choice from six or more sizes. Readers can change the number of words per line. However, this may result in an increase or decrease in the margin size.
Studies have been made regarding the effect of page and font size and summarized with these findings: Reading speed increases with more words per screen. Reading speed will increase with the size of the screen. The size of the letters is important for legibility. After the letters are deemed readable, their size does not seem to affect reading speed. Older readers seem to prefer font size 14 over size 12. Children below age seven prefer font size 24, those aged seven or eight prefer font size 18. Dyslexic students need a critical font size to be able to reach their highest reading speed and this is higher than for non -dyslexic students. Research revealed, unsurprisingly, that black characters on a white background produces the best readability. Others state that black letters on yellow paper are best. E-reader paging is better than scrolling. Increased space between the lines improves clarity of the content. Text can be converted to speech for visually handicapped users. This is of particular assistance to MS or stroke patients who find it difficult to hold a heavy book with page turning tasks.
Visual aids such as lenses, spectacles, refractive surgery and similar products form a huge industry that is already devoted to helping many people affected by deficient vision. It was estimated that in 2002 there were 161 million visually impaired people in the world, of whom 124 million had subnormal vision and 37 million were blind. These figures will increase as the population rises. It is easy to understand why there has been such an increase in demand for large print books. The Kindle font size dynamics provides all vision categories with improved opportunity to read with relieved eyestrain and comfort.
The best known players in this high tech competition for viewer loyalty are: Kindle, Nook, Sony Reader, iPad, Kobo, and Aluratek Libre. There is no doubt that others will want to engage themselves with this new field that is becoming substantial. Sony reveals that since the introduction of their product to the marketplace, over 10 million books have been sold. Amazon reports that during the frenzy connected with Christmas purchases, more e-books were sold than conventional published books. The Association of American Publishers say that in 2009 regular book sales dropped by 1.8 percent, however e-book sales increased 176.6 over the prior year. Sales in 2009 reached an astonishing $169.5 million. This figure threatens to be outdone in 2010 since figures recorded only until April have already reached a heady 118 million.
Researchers have noted the gender differences regarding their reading habits. The first surge of Kindle customers were women. Furthermore, it appears that woman e-book readers are forming a larger percentage than men. It was discovered that women were 11% more likely than men to become e-book readers. However, studies show that 20% of men were more likely to read magazines and another 19% more likely to have read a newspaper. Economic factors will influence readership numbers and their likes regarding themes and topics. Statistics demonstrate that e-book users tend to earn more than $100,000 per year. This group is well educated and has an easy familiarity with computer language, Web navigation and the influence of the media in this area of interest. It is thought that a member of that group may spend a minimum of 20 hours each week involved in internet activity. In 2003 the first e-book check out system for libraries was established, and hundreds of e-book libraries across the land have been created. They checked out a record 1.2 million books and other associated items here and overseas in the month of June, 2010.
Publishers have been paying attention to the astonishing inclination of the public for e-books. Once they overcame their initial resistance to the trend, publishers moved to board the gravy train. Harlequin Enterprises claim to be the first publisher to render all their books to electronic form. Their commitment to this new phenomenon indicates their confidence in the future for e-books. They feel that they are creating a community by announcing special offers, author appearances and other newsworthy items of interest to this special group. The conventional book is still considered the better way to go but now we witness its place being contested. One of the reasons may be sensitivity to the global environmental conditions and the desire to save our trees.
This new, sensational development is still in the throes of birth and development but there are uncertainties that may prove to be obstacles for the future of e-book success. On the other hand, consider younger aged readers who read fewer books and prefer handheld devices that have become a natural activity for their generation. The iPad offers a great deal of opportunities for change and improvement. Google will soon introduce an e-book system that will lock horns with Amazon and others. In this age of high tech communications – what we imagine - no matter how strange and remote, can be regarded as possible.
"I heard about the greatest book club. You send in fifteen dollars a month for a year - and they leave you completely alone.”
Groucho Marx
|
