I wanted to use the opportunity of this final project to research eBooks and eReaders because personally, I have felt that they have changed my life. It is really easy to carry a lightweight kindle around, be able to read any book I want, not worry about losing my progress, having a record of all the books I’ve read, and many other reasons. But I also know some people prefer traditional books and feel that eBooks and eReaders can never take their place. But I do not think it’s about replacing books, but increasing access.
Let’s first have a quick look at the evolution of eBooks and eReaders:
The development of eBooks and eReaders goes hand in hand, however eBooks can be accessed through many digital devices such as a computer, laptop, iPad, smartphone etc, and not just a specific eReader. The benefit of eReaders though is that their technology makes you feel like you are reading on paper, and does not strain your eyes.
In a post COVID-19 world, screens have become very common. Students take online classes, people work remotely, and many daily chores are now digitized so screens have become unavoidable. So in a world full of screens, are eBooks detrimental and reducing our attention spans or are they increasing access and having a positive impact on literacy?
As a mother as well, I was curious to learn if eBooks would be a good resource for my child’s early literacy skills. Turns out, there is evidence that eBooks might be better at improving vocabulary and phonological awareness than even traditional books (López-Escribano et al., 2021).
But I wonder if eBooks have the same effect when they are accessed on a smartphone or laptop instead of an eReader? Because smartphones and laptops now have multiple distractions, readers may be tempted to do other things than read on these devices. And does owning an eReader even guarantee it will be used frequently or build the habit of reading? One study investigated whether access to eReaders or electronic devices increased reading frequency in children. There was no significant evidence suggesting that merely owning an eReader ensured reading, however other electronic devices such as mobile phones did suggest decreased reading frequency (Merga & Roni, 2017). Basically, if you wanted to read, you would do so regardless of the device, and if you did not want to read, you would find a distraction.
While a convenient option for reading books, eReaders are still not a commonplace thing especially in third world countries, where even mainstream digital devices such as smartphones and laptops are hard to find. While eBooks play a huge role in increasing access to education and texts, the devices compatible to their use remain unattainable, and an impossible option for those who may need them the most.
Which makes me think, are eBooks and eReaders really making a dent in literacy rates around the world? Or just making the lives of the already privileged even more convenient?
References:
A very short history of ebooks – Digital Publishing 101. (2024, October 21). Digital Publishing 101. https://digitalpublishing101.com/digital-publishing-101/digital-publishing-basics/a-very-short-history/
Kasdorf, B. (2022, April 19). The past 25 years of e-books. PublishersWeekly.com. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/89005-the-past-25-years-of-e-books.html
López-Escribano, C., & Montesino, S., & García-Ortega, V. (2021, June). The Impact of E-Book Reading on Young Children’s Emergent Literacy Skills: An Analytical Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18126510
Malone, E. (n.d.). Ángela Ruiz Robles – Women of Interaction Design. https://womenofixd.com/stories/angela-ruiz-robles
Merga, M. K., Roni, S., M. (2017, June). The Influence of Access to eReaders, Computers and Mobile Phones on Children’s Book Reading Frequency. Computers & Education, Vol (109), 187-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2017.02.016.
TheBookScouterTeam. (2025, April 25). A brief history of eBooks – BookScouter blog. BookScouter Blog. https://bookscouter.com/blog/a-brief-history-of-ebooks/