Comments on: E-text: A threat to concentration? http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:35:38 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Daniel Udsen http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/comment-page-1/#comment-1002906 Daniel Udsen Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:46:08 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/#comment-1002906 This is once a though experiment putting perfect world scenarios for book consumption up against worst world scenario's for web, it's just one posible wiev it's dont acutally tells the full story about the actual reality.. what about reading on the morning bus over maybe a month does that consist of prolonged concentration and is the web always read with the famous nielsen stat of 7 second to next click or can reality be different for a screen native generation. And what about the way you read the manual for something, do you even know anyone who have read even the 10page manual for the microwave in one sitting session? a lot of web content just isn't made up of long texts suitable deep reading, do we have any studies done on modern hw, that proves any reality to those myth(most of the figures trown arounds comes from a 80ies study done with microfilm or teletext for television displays). This is once a though experiment putting perfect world scenarios for book consumption up against worst world scenario’s for web, it’s just one posible wiev it’s dont acutally tells the full story about the actual reality..

what about reading on the morning bus over maybe a month does that consist of prolonged concentration and is the web always read with the famous nielsen stat of 7 second to next click or can reality be different for a screen native generation.

And what about the way you read the manual for something, do you even know anyone who have read even the 10page manual for the microwave in one sitting session? a lot of web content just isn’t made up of long texts suitable deep reading, do we have any studies done on modern hw, that proves any reality to those myth(most of the figures trown arounds comes from a 80ies study done with microfilm or teletext for television displays).

]]> By: Court http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/comment-page-1/#comment-1002111 Court Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:18:04 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/#comment-1002111 I'm with LC. Once I start reading on the Kindle, I read it just like a p-book. You even swiftly get used to that annoying blinking thing the Kindle does when it turns pages. I don't think my concentration level is any more or less than with p-book. One thing that does happen, though, is that my tolerance level for bad writing (in fiction) or uninteresting writing (in nonfiction) goes way down. With a p-book you have to put the book down, go over to your book shelf, find a new book, etc. With the Kindle, you just hit one button and there are all your other reading options right in front of you. Life is too short to read bad books, though, so I'm not sure I'd class this as a defect. I’m with LC. Once I start reading on the Kindle, I read it just like a p-book. You even swiftly get used to that annoying blinking thing the Kindle does when it turns pages. I don’t think my concentration level is any more or less than with p-book.

One thing that does happen, though, is that my tolerance level for bad writing (in fiction) or uninteresting writing (in nonfiction) goes way down. With a p-book you have to put the book down, go over to your book shelf, find a new book, etc. With the Kindle, you just hit one button and there are all your other reading options right in front of you. Life is too short to read bad books, though, so I’m not sure I’d class this as a defect.

]]> By: LC http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/comment-page-1/#comment-1002107 LC Tue, 13 Jan 2009 05:00:59 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/#comment-1002107 Over the years I have purchased several e-ink devices and what one I use is usually dictated by the lowest price or availability of the book I want to buy. Lately it has been books bought for on my Kindle. I have never once found myself wanting to browse or shop when reading a novel. Usually when I read it is because that is what I am in the mood to do at the time, so I really don't have an urge to do anything else. Besides. One could easily be distracted while reading a paperback book be and tempted to browse or shop on their smartphone. Over the years I have purchased several e-ink devices and what one I use is usually dictated by the lowest price or availability of the book I want to buy. Lately it has been books bought for on my Kindle. I have never once found myself wanting to browse or shop when reading a novel. Usually when I read it is because that is what I am in the mood to do at the time, so I really don’t have an urge to do anything else.

Besides. One could easily be distracted while reading a paperback book be and tempted to browse or shop on their smartphone.

]]> By: Rich Adin http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/comment-page-1/#comment-1001761 Rich Adin Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:26:56 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/#comment-1001761 I'm with J Sweet -- one of the reasons I bought a Sony rather than the Kindle is that the Kindle is too much like my laptop and the ability to browse online too distracting. OTOH, my Sony 505 emulates the pbook reading experience fairly well -- not perfect, just close. I’m with J Sweet — one of the reasons I bought a Sony rather than the Kindle is that the Kindle is too much like my laptop and the ability to browse online too distracting. OTOH, my Sony 505 emulates the pbook reading experience fairly well — not perfect, just close.

]]> By: Logan Kennelly http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/comment-page-1/#comment-1001296 Logan Kennelly Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:46:23 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/#comment-1001296 pidgeon92, is it better to look up words that you aren't sure of? I don't know, but it seems possible that trying to figure out a word in context (especially if you think you know it) may result in better recall than looking up the word and moving on. Just a thought... pidgeon92, is it better to look up words that you aren’t sure of? I don’t know, but it seems possible that trying to figure out a word in context (especially if you think you know it) may result in better recall than looking up the word and moving on.

Just a thought…

]]> By: pidgeon92 http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/comment-page-1/#comment-1001281 pidgeon92 Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:34:44 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/#comment-1001281 So far, the only "distraction" for me on the Kindle is the dictionary. I am constantly looking up words for which I am not sure of the definition, and it does take the Kindle several seconds to respond. Ultimately, it's better than just guessing at the definition, which is what I used to do most often when a dictionary was not within reach. To use the Kindle as a web browser is an exercise in patience, too much trouble to bother with. So far, the only “distraction” for me on the Kindle is the dictionary. I am constantly looking up words for which I am not sure of the definition, and it does take the Kindle several seconds to respond. Ultimately, it’s better than just guessing at the definition, which is what I used to do most often when a dictionary was not within reach.

To use the Kindle as a web browser is an exercise in patience, too much trouble to bother with.

]]> By: J Sweet http://www.teleread.org/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/comment-page-1/#comment-1001093 J Sweet Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:15:51 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/blog/2009/01/11/e-text-a-threat-to-concentration/#comment-1001093 This is why I like a dedicated reader (in my case, Sony). Reading on a computer, phone, etc., I find myself constantly checking e-mail, reading texts and succumbing to other distractions. So I think she makes some good points. This is why I like a dedicated reader (in my case, Sony). Reading on a computer, phone, etc., I find myself constantly checking e-mail, reading texts and succumbing to other distractions. So I think she makes some good points.

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