A recent report at CNN caught my attention. The study examined reading speeds of people using four mediums (printed books, computers, iPad, and Kindle). The results…people who read on an iPad or Kindle reader slower than the printed word, 10.7 percent and 6.2 percent respectively. The study also revealed that people prefer on the iPad followed by the Kindle with the printed book finishing third, and of course a computer last. The difference between iPad and printed books is hardly noticeable, but there nonetheless.
This research in quite interesting. Pundits argue that reading digitally speeds up their reading. For example, Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows argues that the speed gained in reading digitally sacrifices comprehension. Well this research shows that the reader actually slows down. Perhaps eReaders bring us closer to Slow Reading.
The Information Activist Librarian 