Are Physical Interfaces Superior to Virtual Ones?
Something's been bothering me ever since I started reading books, especially non-fiction, on my Kindle:The entire article is very interesting, but these paragraphs in particular caught my eye - finally, an articulation of one of the main reasons I find myself dissatisfied when reading in any kind of digital format.
I can't remember where anything is. Physical books are full of spatial reference points; an especially beloved book is a physical topography in which we develop a vague sense of which chapters contain relevant information; even where, on a page, a particularly striking sentence or diagram lies.
Ebooks have none of these referents. They're searchable (or at least, some are) which mitigates this issue somewhat. But I'm unlikely to remember that a fact was at "41% through a book" for one simple reason: my hands never got a chance to find out what 41% through a particular ebook feels like.
Comments
ugh. e-books.
When they come to me and there is no alternative paper book format, I just work with that. I love my eBook-reading because it brings me books (and allows me to listed to them) when paper-format books are not a workable option.
Books can easily last hundreds of years and I've yet to see a piece of electronic equipment make it that far, but I don't suppose that's a valid comparison. :)
I understand eredaers aren't for everyone, but i worry that those against them carry over their negativity to the users as if saying a true bibliophile would never downgrade to such a format. :(.
My nook is my favorite non sentimental possession. It's so convenient, especially as a breastfeeding mother. I can easily hold it in one hand, which is all i have free these days.. And have all the books i want in one location. It's much easier to ask daniel to grab my nook for me than describe what book and where it is. Also. I tend to jump around in different books, depending on my mood. Sometimes I need to read light and fluffy because I'm too tired to concentrate and other times i want to read to learn. It's nice having that allinone, so the brief moments of downtime i have, I can whip one device out and read.
While i love going to the library.. And still do on a weekly occasion, it's MUCH easier to log online and download a book from them instead of lugging my baby there when he probably should be sleeping.
Because of the convenience, I have already read more books sinceChristmas than i have last year combined.. A guess, but a logical one. Also i LOVE that it keeps track of exactly where i left off. Of course, a bookmark should do the same thing but i am constantly short of them when i need one and they tend to fall out. ;)
Not trying to convince you to use an ereader, just trying to explain they (and their users) are not evil incarnate like I've heard some claim.
I also have to be careful with audio books - I enjoy listening to them in the car or while working on projects, but I just don't retain the material like I will with a paper book. So I generally stick to rereads or chick lit when I go the audio route.
I am not a spacial person at all. In fact that's my biggest weakness. Perhaps this is why ebooks do not bother me at all. I am absolutely horrid at remembering where things are. I *am* tactile but I like the feel of my nook and love clicking to the next page. :)
Also, Grayson says: ,MKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK.;Aqxlz,/; ;/,,gnnj,m ,bj
(betcha didn't know that speaking Baby was among my talents. :))
I LOVE when people can figure out their learning styles and use that to make learning easier and more enjoyable. Homeschooling worked out really well for my family largely because my mom was really good at teaching each child in his own language, so to speak. My two brothers and I have radically different learning styles, and we were each able to use that to help us instead of having it work against us.