Will we ever substitute books and notebooks for e-readers/writer devices??

[thiago1080]

Guys, I'm studding the ergonomics and interactions design of e-readers, tablets and books and notebooks themselves to understand why do we still print more than 1 billion books every year (just in the US).

There is a link to 2 minutes survey where I ask some basic qualitative questions. Would you mind to help??

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10T4...79QD4/viewform

[HarryT]

What do you intend to do with this data? Will it be published somewhere? Is it for academic use? Commercial use?

[eschwartz]

Different people prefer different things.
Personally, I don't understand why people would prefer paper books. But... I have it on good authority that there are actually people like that!


Now, paper books do fulfill a specific niche role for me.
As a religious Jew, the Sabbath laws prevent me from using electronic devices on the Sabbath.
So I still read paper books, but I try to get them from the library.

[Cinisajoy]

Why is it a Google doc?

[cfFairy]

I think from an academic viewpoint, electronic books/readers are probably the way to go. As a college student, I know how expensive textbooks can be and don't forget how big of a pain it is to haul around books (I'm an English major and I usually have multiple books per class). I think schools SHOULD switch to electronic/digital books. BUT to answer your question on why billions of paper books are being published in the US alone; there is something about having a physical copy of a book in your hands. I read a lot and many of my friends and family are big readers too and we all prefer physical books to read. For me, I love the smell of books and the feeling of turning pages. I just don't see physical books completely dying out.

[eschwartz]

Textbooks are expensive.
But electronic textbooks aren't the answer. The answer may be Wikibooks. But the answer definitely includes ending the habit professors have, of assigning their own published textbooks as an extra source of income.

And Wikibooks tend to be digital, so they don't weigh a lot. Win-win.

[ekbell]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Textbooks are expensive.
But electronic textbooks aren't the answer. The answer may be Wikibooks. But the answer definitely includes ending the habit professors have, of assigning their own published textbooks as an extra source of income.

And Wikibooks tend to be digital, so they don't weigh a lot. Win-win.

Nothing is going to eliminate the other reason for assigning their own published books...the fact that they agree with every word the author wrote

[danskmacabre]

I occasionally buy technical manuals (for computer programming), although increasingly I just get the PDF. As it's handy to have a physical book open when messing about with code. I'm getting used to just using my tablet and having that open next to my PC.

I also buy physical copies of Tabletop Roleplaying game books (such as dungeons and Dragons), as they're easier to flip around and swap with other people at the table quickly.

Other than that, I also buy special editions of novels, usually hardbacks with slip cases and additional material etc.

I never buy paperbacks anymore or standard editions of books.

I never buy magazines either.

[tomsem]

The question is, will the AI's that replace us following the Singularity read books? I think not.

[thiago1080]

Hello guys, a few months ago I posted the questions below. Some of you responded to the link (what I wanted) and some only in the forum.

The data I'm gathereing is for academic and the link leads you to a google form, that will compile the answers in a sheet and make my life easier.

I see you prefer to discuss here in the forum (for obvious reasons), so I will put the questions there are in the form here:

1. Which is your e-book device?
2. What's the advantage of your e-book over PAPER BOOKS? (Think about the obvious and unobvious ones)
3. What about the opposite? Wich paper book features and possibilities would you like to have on e-readers?
4. What the advantages of your e-book over TABLETS?
5. Any other comments you'd like to add?

What I'm trying to understand are the intrinsic reasons that leads us to keep printing, transporting and carrying paper books. I understand you are also curious about that, so I envite you to discuss it here!

Form here!!


"Guys, I'm studding the ergonomics and interactions design of e-readers, tablets and books and notebooks themselves to understand why do we still print more than 1 billion books every year (just in the US).

There is a link to 2 minutes survey where I ask some basic qualitative questions. Would you mind to help??

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10T4...79QD4/viewform "

[frahse]

Originally Posted by thiago1080

Hello guys, a few months ago I posted the questions below. Some of you responded to the link (what I wanted) and some only in the forum.

The data I'm gathereing is for academic and the link leads you to a google form, that will compile the answers in a sheet and make my life easier.

I see you prefer to discuss here in the forum (for obvious reasons), so I will put the questions there are in the form here:

1. Which is your e-book device?
2. What's the advantage of your e-book over PAPER BOOKS? (Think about the obvious and unobvious ones)
3. What about the opposite? Wich paper book features and possibilities would you like to have on e-readers?
4. What the advantages of your e-book over TABLETS?
5. Any other comments you'd like to add?

What I'm trying to understand are the intrinsic reasons that leads us to keep printing, transporting and carrying paper books. I understand you are also curious about that, so I envite you to discuss it here!

Form here!!


"Guys, I'm studding the ergonomics and interactions design of e-readers, tablets and books and notebooks themselves to understand why do we still



print more than 1 billion books every year (just in the US).

There is a link to 2 minutes survey where I ask some basic qualitative questions. Would you mind to help??

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/10T4...79QD4/viewform "

Good Post.

I use all the media. eInk readers, tablet, notebook, desktop, standard books, paperback, and finally occasionally but not often a phone.

I prefer paperback books because you can't break it, easy to transport or store, you can easily mark it up for future reference (I am writing more these days). The old standard books, are larger, heavier and clunky and though I might have bought a used one, I still have a certain reverence for them and treat them nicer than a paper back.

When you get to the digital devices the eReader (my preference) is closest to the paperback, and then all the larger devices sort of fall in there. I end up doing a lot of reading these days on a large monitor when I am working. I can fine tune the monitor for multiple page display, wonderful print, etc.

Finally, the major problem with paper books: bulk, weight, storage space, mold and mildew, bugs, etc.

I have a large number of paperbacks stored in rubbermaid bins in the basement. i have most all the stories in digital form, but I still can't get bring myself to get rid of my old collection of SciFi in paperback form. Even a few hardbound in there but it has been years since I checked.

Your other questions are mostly obvious.

Happy Karma!

[meeera]

Originally Posted by thiago1080

Hello guys, a few months ago I posted the questions below. Some of you responded to the link (what I wanted) and some only in the forum.

The data I'm gathereing is for academic and the link leads you to a google form, that will compile the answers in a sheet and make my life easier.

What is your name? What university are you at, and what is your role? Who is your academic supervisor? What are the purposes of the research?

[Dr. Drib]

Please do not create two threads on the exact same topic.

Your new thread has been merged into the first one.

Thank you for your understanding.


Don
(Moderator)

[cvkemp]

When I was doing a lot of research and having to read a lot of technical manuals and technical material I wanted them in book form and hard cover at that. When I was in college I wanted hard cover books. But now that I am retired and reading for pleasure I love my Kindle and that is all I read on except for my Bible. I want it to be a leather cover book I can hold in my hand.

[Barty]

I'm a tech geek but if I'm a teacher or prof, I'd ban laptops, phones, tablets in my class. Because people inevitably pay more attention to their device than to what's happening, assuming they're even taking notes and not actually checking Facebook or whatever.