Do E-Books Make It Harder to Remember What You Just Read?

[jocampo]

Wow ... fantastic article explaining why paper book may help a bit when learning some material:

http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/1...impair-memory/

While I do not deny or confirm what it says, I must admit I can still remember some pages, lines or locations of dozens of computer books I still have at home. And when I need to refresh or read about a topic again, it came faster to my mind.

[flipreads]

I think it's more important for younger readers than adult readers, where memory development is crucial.

If you're a fiction reader, I think there's less impact on memorization whether reading it from a mass market paperback vs. an eReader.

[jocampo]

Originally Posted by flipreads

I think it's more important for younger readers than adult readers, where memory development is crucial.

If you're a fiction reader, I think there's less impact on memorization whether reading it from a mass market paperback vs. an eReader.

Good point.

If I recall well, the article is talking about textbooks or study materials.

On my case, I'm taking about database books or tutorial books, not fiction books. On those cases I can recall a whole topic if I remember a table or graphic that should be on X book.

Again, I'm nt saying the article is right, but somehow makes sense for non fiction material, in my opinion. It happened to me before and I didn't realize it until I read this article.

I think that a novel will read the same on ebook or paper book; but ebooks will be way more comfortable and convenient.

On a different topic but related, I find that I am more motivated to read very thick fiction books on my Kindle than any other format. It motivates me, especially when the book is a bit boring. A physiological factor I guess.

[pidgeon92]

I can barely remember the details of the last few books... As well as of the last few movies. It's my problem, not the media.

[Giggleton]

I used to see books as individual objects, I would recall a page in this or that book. Now I see all texts as one.

[ignacio ferrer]

Originally Posted by jocampo

Wow ... fantastic article explaining why paper book may help a bit when learning some material:

http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/1...impair-memory/

While I do not deny or confirm what it says, I must admit I can still remember some pages, lines or locations of dozens of computer books I still have at home. And when I need to refresh or read about a topic again, it came faster to my mind.

There is always the same problem with this kind of research: apples and oranges.
Maybe everything is true what they said.
My reading experience is complety different. Because I use annotation, bookmarks plus I look up words and mark them.
Then it is easily possible to go through the book or a chapter after a short while, which is easy because the material is accessible on your reader.
So this reading process goes beyond reading.
Basicaly this is all about memory technique ...

[carpetmojo]

Do E-Books Make It Harder to Remember What You Just Read?

No, but falling asleep at the same page every night for a week does.......

[Alfy]

I was going to say something, but forgot what it was. Must be my computer screen...

[latepaul]

I forget details like character names in what I've just read in both e- and p- books. The difference is that ebooks have a better search utility.

[carpetmojo]

Originally Posted by Alfy

I was going to say something, but forgot what it was. Must be my computer screen...

Nah.... you've fallen asleep, haven't you.......

[DiapDealer]

What was the question?

[J. Strnad]

Trying to learn something (like Microsoft Access) is definitely easier for me with a paper book. I write notes on the pages, stick in Post-its, make separate notes, whatever works.

I forget what I'm reading sometimes, on the Kindle, if it's been awhile. I start reading where I left off and it takes me a few seconds to remember what the book was (sometimes). I kind of miss that header that gave me the book title and author name.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

I forget what I'm reading sometimes, on the Kindle, if it's been awhile. I start reading where I left off and it takes me a few seconds to remember what the book was (sometimes). I kind of miss that header that gave me the book title and author name.

That's because your Kindle is too new. The title header is permanent on mine.
(although the author never shows)

[QuantumIguana]

It looks like they had to dig to find anything. Studies found that "when the exact same material is presented in both media, there is no measurable difference in student performance." So they kept digging, and found that poor psychology students and gave them economic texts to read, and found that more repetition was requires when using a computer rather than a paper text. An e-reader screen is not a computer display. The article also talks about landmarks on the paper page that help people remember. But when I'm looking at text on a page, it tends to be nothing but text on a page, whether I am reading a paper book or reading from an e-reader. A textbook can be laid out to make the data more digestible, but there's no reason this can't be done with an e-reader.

[RDaneel54]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

A textbook can be laid out to make the data more digestible, but there's no reason this can't be done with an e-reader.

Exactly. "Textbooks" or rather, educational material, can be written and presented to optimize whatever media is to used. For example, stand alone book, classroom presentation with a workbook, textbook, webpages, whatever. It takes time to do it well, but it can be done.

Here's one: Do you remember the time better when you look at an analog or digital clock?