Comments on: Older adults and e-books—and how E could be the new large ‘print’ http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sun, 08 Nov 2009 03:38:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Senescence, death and e-books | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-1148004 Senescence, death and e-books | TeleRead: Bring the E-Books Home Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:41:59 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-1148004 [...] not excluding the terminally ill. It’s great to see similar thoughts from Alex; also see Isabelle Fetherston’s essay on e-books a the new large print. Meanwhile, even without a library, countless public domain books exist for access at no charge, [...] [...] not excluding the terminally ill. It’s great to see similar thoughts from Alex; also see Isabelle Fetherston’s essay on e-books a the new large print. Meanwhile, even without a library, countless public domain books exist for access at no charge, [...]

]]> By: Steve Jordan http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-1146651 Steve Jordan Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:06:39 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-1146651 Fortunately, reading devices are growing more numerous and coming down in price, making it easier for someone to find a model they like, at a price they can afford. And don't forget, e-books can be read on existing devices, including desktop and laptop computers, which many older adults say they are perfectly comfortable using as readers. Fortunately, reading devices are growing more numerous and coming down in price, making it easier for someone to find a model they like, at a price they can afford. And don’t forget, e-books can be read on existing devices, including desktop and laptop computers, which many older adults say they are perfectly comfortable using as readers.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-1146612 David Rothman Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:16:13 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-1146612 Thanks for reviving the thread, Dave, but remember that the existing Kindle comes with a <em>big</em> problem for older adults and lots of other people. Price! Even at $259 rather than the earlier $299 in the Stats, the Kindle still expensive. $99 might be too much for some. There are other issues such as tech support in person, which some newbies might need. Not to mention the possibility of using the library model to pay writers in many cases, while putting the books online for free to users. What's more, some elderly people might have problems with the current E Ink's low contrast and prefer LCDs. Simply put, yes, much progress has been made, but it's not as if nirvana has arrived. Hence the need to think about a focused effort. Thanks, David Thanks for reviving the thread, Dave, but remember that the existing Kindle comes with a big problem for older adults and lots of other people. Price! Even at $259 rather than the earlier $299 in the Stats, the Kindle still expensive. $99 might be too much for some.

There are other issues such as tech support in person, which some newbies might need. Not to mention the possibility of using the library model to pay writers in many cases, while putting the books online for free to users. What’s more, some elderly people might have problems with the current E Ink’s low contrast and prefer LCDs.

Simply put, yes, much progress has been made, but it’s not as if nirvana has arrived. Hence the need to think about a focused effort.

Thanks,
David

]]> By: dave http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-1146600 dave Thu, 08 Oct 2009 00:20:29 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-1146600 It seems like this thread is over a year old and did not know at the time that the Kindle would be so successful. It seems like this thread is over a year old and did not know at the time that the Kindle would be so successful.

]]> By: Barton Hodes, MD http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-747168 Barton Hodes, MD Sun, 30 Mar 2008 16:18:36 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-747168 As an ophthalmologist I see many patients every day who have limited vision, most with macular degeneration but many more with a wide variety of other untreatable eye diseases. Large print books and periodicals have been available for decades but do not fill the void that easily can and should be filled with user-friendly i-devices. Amazon's Kindle is a good start, but it has limited ability to enlarge font size. It should be painfully simple to increase that font size to at least double its present capability and help many more vision compromised indiduals enjoy the near endless array of available offerings. To many of these people reading is the ONLY recreation left in life. How about adding SUDOKU, SCRABBLE, and other games to the menu? Keep beating the drums ... this void must and WILL be filled, hopefully sooner rather than later. As an ophthalmologist I see many patients every day who have limited vision, most with macular degeneration but many more with a wide variety of other untreatable eye diseases. Large print books and periodicals have been available for decades but do not fill the void that easily can and should be filled with user-friendly i-devices. Amazon’s Kindle is a good start, but it has limited ability to enlarge font size. It should be painfully simple to increase that font size to at least double its present capability and help many more vision compromised indiduals enjoy the near endless array of available offerings. To many of these people reading is the ONLY recreation left in life. How about adding SUDOKU, SCRABBLE, and other games to the menu?

Keep beating the drums … this void must and WILL be filled, hopefully sooner rather than later.

]]> By: links for 2007-12-14 at LIS :: Michael Habib http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-658077 links for 2007-12-14 at LIS :: Michael Habib Fri, 14 Dec 2007 08:27:33 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-658077 [...] Older adults and e-books—and how E could be the new large ‘print’ Excellent article arguing the need for large print and senior friendly e-books and readers. I would have the font size blown up all the time. Maybe I need to take a look at the Kindle. (tags: ebooks books ebookreaders largeprint kindle publishing) [...] [...] Older adults and e-books—and how E could be the new large ‘print’ Excellent article arguing the need for large print and senior friendly e-books and readers. I would have the font size blown up all the time. Maybe I need to take a look at the Kindle. (tags: ebooks books ebookreaders largeprint kindle publishing) [...]

]]> By: Isabelle Fetherston http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-655183 Isabelle Fetherston Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:33:34 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-655183 Al, thank you for sharing your experiences with the Kindle. Are there any features that you think should be added to the Kindle? Al, thank you for sharing your experiences with the Kindle. Are there any features that you think should be added to the Kindle?

]]> By: Isabelle Fetherston http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-655172 Isabelle Fetherston Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:21:27 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-655172 Thank you, Jeff. I agree that technology is a barrier - both learning the technology and being able to afford it. First, an older adult has to buy a computer, buy an e-book device, and pay for an internet connection. Then the person may need to learn both how to use the computer and how to transfer files to the e-book reader. This is a lot to expect if you want people to try this new way of reading. That is the main benefit that I see with the Kindle. There is no need for a computer or for an expensive internet connection. Also, it would enable people to start reading e-books right away without the steep learning curve. Thank you, Jeff. I agree that technology is a barrier – both learning the technology and being able to afford it. First, an older adult has to buy a computer, buy an e-book device, and pay for an internet connection. Then the person may need to learn both how to use the computer and how to transfer files to the e-book reader. This is a lot to expect if you want people to try this new way of reading.

That is the main benefit that I see with the Kindle. There is no need for a computer or for an expensive internet connection. Also, it would enable people to start reading e-books right away without the steep learning curve.

]]> By: Al http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-654991 Al Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:57:31 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-654991 I have a Kindle. I am also 75 years old. I bought it not only for the portability features but also for the large text. I was showing it to a friend who reads only large print books and she immediately ordered one for herself. It is easier to hold and the text is large enough at the #5 setting for her to read. She then has one larger size to switch to when her eyes are tired. I think variable text size in e-readers is one of the most desired features of these devices and will be a boon to those who cannot hold the large print and hard to get books in print. I have a Kindle. I am also 75 years old. I bought it not only for the portability features but also for the large text. I was showing it to a friend who reads only large print books and she immediately ordered one for herself. It is easier to hold and the text is large enough at the #5 setting for her to read. She then has one larger size to switch to when her eyes are tired. I think variable text size in e-readers is one of the most desired features of these devices and will be a boon to those who cannot hold the large print and hard to get books in print.

]]> By: David Rothman http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-654917 David Rothman Wed, 12 Dec 2007 17:08:31 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-654917 Jeff, by all means keep us posted! I'm not surprised that audio is the most popular, but as I see it, libraries should go beyond mere popularity. With a good selection of e-books, more people will be tempted to try them out. A little Catch 22, perhaps? HH. David Jeff, by all means keep us posted! I’m not surprised that audio is the most popular, but as I see it, libraries should go beyond mere popularity. With a good selection of e-books, more people will be tempted to try them out. A little Catch 22, perhaps? HH. David

]]> By: Jeff Scott http://www.teleread.org/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/comment-page-1/#comment-654900 Jeff Scott Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:46:45 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2007/12/12/older-adults-and-books-and-how-e-could-be-the-new-large-print/#comment-654900 Great article! Certainly large print selection really stinks. You may be able to get some of the latest authors in large print, but most come three months after the latest bestseller has been released. Furthermore, large print books go out of print very quickly. If you love a certain author, you would be hard pressed to find more materials by the same author. The technology is the barrier for some. Introducing them to a laptop and showing them how to transfer an item from a computer to a device can be tricky. I am experimenting with overdrive from my library for e-books, e-audio, e-music, and e-movies. The audio is easiest so far and the most popular. Great article! Certainly large print selection really stinks. You may be able to get some of the latest authors in large print, but most come three months after the latest bestseller has been released. Furthermore, large print books go out of print very quickly. If you love a certain author, you would be hard pressed to find more materials by the same author.

The technology is the barrier for some. Introducing them to a laptop and showing them how to transfer an item from a computer to a device can be tricky. I am experimenting with overdrive from my library for e-books, e-audio, e-music, and e-movies. The audio is easiest so far and the most popular.

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