Ebooks – Convenient but easily forgotten
From an educational perspective I find e-books very convenient interms of lowering costs and greater portability and flexibility in using a variety of texts within one sitting.
I have a kindle e-reader and it is handy and convenient: less weight and bulk and offers me options for if I desire to read a different book. However, although I love my kindle the experience lacks the satisfaction I get from reading novels and texts. I like to highlight, make notes and comments as well as attach visuals. It is funny how even novels that do not include visuals allow for a more visual experience than e-books ( is it the presentation of the text on paper, or rather is that a comination of sense – I can touch therefore it influences my experience?).
From personal experience I enjoy the convenience of e-material however, I do not relate to or retain content as much as when engaging with an actual text. On the other hand, videos and visuals increase my retention rate even more. E-books are developing and features become more advanced. http://ebook-reader-review.toptenreviews.com/. However, they do not encompass my ideal, which be an e-reader equipped with visuals (not the simplified platforms but high quality graphics), video capabilities and the ability to highligh texts and take notes that I can see and read again/edit when I reread the text right there on the same page. Such technology may perhaps even trump paper and hardback experiences.
Kerry-Ann
Posted in: Week 06: eBooks
Angela Novoa 8:20 am on October 16, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Kerry-Ann,
Last week a student presented a study she read about how eBooks and eReading has the effect that users do not retain for long time the information they read, reducing their capability of memorizing ideas. The study also suggested that maybe in the future we will not need such thing as long term memory because information would be available everywhere. I do agree with you that highlighting, making notes and comments helps to retain information. I have an iPad 2 and I can do all those thing through this device…and I am very satisfied by this experience. So, I am not sure anymore that the text on paper is what influence the reader’s experience. However, we are all different human beings who have different interests, likes, and might not feel the same way when using a particular device.
Angela.
khenry 11:48 am on December 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Hi Angela,
I would support that research as I believe we process information differently now and really do not need to retain information as much as before but rather new skills of knowing how to find, access, use and manipulate information.
I also believe that the ability to actively take notes while reading aids in memory retention.
Kerry-Ann
Keisha Edwards-Hamilton 6:02 pm on October 20, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Very nice you have an ereader Kerry and therefore you are able to confirm its advantages since you are a first hand user. I appreciate you sharing your view for future developments in the ebook venture to include more graphical and video technology. I am sure that at the pace at which technology is advancing, very soon there will be ereaders with those capabilities.
Keisha
khenry 11:49 am on December 4, 2011 Permalink | Log in to Reply
Thank you Keisha. I do believe that that will change as well and quite soon given competition and innovations in other devices such as the ipad2.
Kerry-Ann