How to promote ereading and ereaders - Page 2

rebarnmom · 10-08-2008, 07:33 PM

I have my mom to thank for my love of reading as well! She was always reading to us and reading for her own pleasure. There were regular trips to the library, always letting us order books from the Scholastic catalog, book fairs at school... good memories! Thanks Mom!!!

anahid · 10-09-2008, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justy

I totally agree with you! My 5 yr old is always asking me to read to him from my Cybook, and wonders why Daddy doesn't have any kids books on his Cybook!!! I have about 5 kids books loaded and am currently reading him "The Little Prince" (Thanks Patricia!!) a chapter or two at a time. He is loving it! He does make me increase the font size, so that he can "see" the words. I'm more than willing to do it, anything to get him hooked on the written word in any format.

Early exposure to to an eBook reader of any kind has to be a good thing for future sales.

That's a coincidence, I'm also reading to my 4 year old son The Little prince, and looking for other children's books, if possible with illustrations. Although for them it's a pity we don't have colour screens yet.

The other day I caught him with the cybook open and turned on, trying to find "his" book.

anahid

sorareader · 10-09-2008, 08:19 AM

I think that, at least here, in Spain, the main problem is really simple: very few people read on a regular basis, be the platform real paper or an e-ink device. Perhaps if companies start adding some bells and whistles -such as games, touch screens and the like- and, of course, lowering the price, something could be done.

DMcCunney · 10-09-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anahid

That's a coincidence, I'm also reading to my 4 year old son The Little prince, and looking for other children's books, if possible with illustrations. Although for them it's a pity we don't have colour screens yet.

Project Gutenberg has a fair bit, if you feel like converting. For instance, lots of stuff from Arthur Rackham and Randolph Caldecott, who has a children's book award named after him.

I collect stuff like this, and lack of color support is one reason why I'm not in the market for a dedicated reader.
______
Dennis

starrigger · 10-09-2008, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

I consider reading to your kids a critical component of getting them want to read, because reading is fun. For too many folks, reading is a chore, done reluctantly because they have to.

True. My 16 year old daughter still enjoys hearing books read aloud, and it's still a family ritual.

My suggestion, which is probably a few years too late, is to sell reading devices with the complete Harry Potter series preloaded. Plus a few other good reads.

DMcCunney · 10-09-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrigger

True. My 16 year old daughter still enjoys hearing books read aloud, and it's still a family ritual.

My suggestion, which is probably a few years too late, is to sell reading devices with the complete Harry Potter series preloaded. Plus a few other good reads.

I think that's a lovely idea, but I think the process really needs to start before the kids are old enough to read themselves or deal with a reader.

This topic came up before, and I suggested reading to your young child from a reader. The kid would get the idea that reading was fun, and that a reader was something used to do it. When the kid starts asking to do it herself, you start supervised sessions where the kid is at the controls and learns to use it. When you are confident the kid can use one and take care of it without breaking it, you start thinking about getting one for them.
______
Dennis

bbusybookworm · 10-09-2008, 06:35 PM

I Have to say that until very recently most people outside the US were not that aware of Readers.

It took the Publicity of the Kindle and recently the promotion my Sony in the UK to slowly get people aware of the existence of readers.

Once people know about it, then comes the question of experience. Most people cannot see the benefit of eInk screens untill they actually see them in person, as they usually assume that they are the similar to LCD screens on computers and Phones.

I've been approached by so many people who have been curious about readers when I'm out and about that I've lost count. They've been astonished by the readability of the screen.

The main problem people then run into is availability of content. Only a limited selection is available for purchase (especially outside the US). Most people will not know that they can easily buy from other stores, or about format shifting.

Finally is the Usability. Currently, the Kindle has the easiest system for buying books, but even so it does take a little knowledge to setup an account initially. The others while quiet easy to use, do require a little bit of technical know how to buy protected content and require a computer to do so.

That's why I'll be interested in seeing POS system in stores, to get over that knowledge hump.

Mike's Place · 10-11-2008, 02:10 AM

Well, I think readers will have to come along bit before they'll really entrance kids. I remember the original black and white IBM PC without graphics did not have enough visual interest for my two year old. But when they went color with graphics a year later or two later he enjoyed 'reader rabbit' and other educational programs.

Content on the reader must become better and more accessible for kids. My son would read something if it taught him to make something or do something. That might require video and sound. Unfortunately, that moves us away from readers and closer to book sized computers - I would call them 'N-o-t-e-b-o-o-k' computers and they could sit in your lap when you used them.

I don't mean to be sarcastic. What I'm saying is that I don't think a reader is for everyone unless it crosses the boundary... but then is it still a reader, or is it a 'Notepad' computer?

That's where I think it will go. I'm not terribly happy about it.

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10-08-2008, 07:33 PM	#16
rebarnmom Wizard Posts: 1,289 Karma: 4525055 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: rural Illinois, USA Device: Sony PRS-700 (traded in), Sony PRS-650	I have my mom to thank for my love of reading as well! She was always reading to us and reading for her own pleasure. There were regular trips to the library, always letting us order books from the Scholastic catalog, book fairs at school... good memories! Thanks Mom!!!

10-09-2008, 08:19 AM	#18
sorareader Member Posts: 17 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2008 Device: Hanlin V3	I think that, at least here, in Spain, the main problem is really simple: very few people read on a regular basis, be the platform real paper or an e-ink device. Perhaps if companies start adding some bells and whistles -such as games, touch screens and the like- and, of course, lowering the price, something could be done.

10-09-2008, 06:35 PM	#22
bbusybookworm Tech Junkie Posts: 1,027 Karma: 10080 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Earth Device: iPad, MotoXStyle, OnePlusOne	I Have to say that until very recently most people outside the US were not that aware of Readers. It took the Publicity of the Kindle and recently the promotion my Sony in the UK to slowly get people aware of the existence of readers. Once people know about it, then comes the question of experience. Most people cannot see the benefit of eInk screens untill they actually see them in person, as they usually assume that they are the similar to LCD screens on computers and Phones. I've been approached by so many people who have been curious about readers when I'm out and about that I've lost count. They've been astonished by the readability of the screen. The main problem people then run into is availability of content. Only a limited selection is available for purchase (especially outside the US). Most people will not know that they can easily buy from other stores, or about format shifting. Finally is the Usability. Currently, the Kindle has the easiest system for buying books, but even so it does take a little knowledge to setup an account initially. The others while quiet easy to use, do require a little bit of technical know how to buy protected content and require a computer to do so. That's why I'll be interested in seeing POS system in stores, to get over that knowledge hump.

10-11-2008, 02:10 AM	#23
Mike's Place Pull up a chair Posts: 58 Karma: 113 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Francisco, East Bay Device: PRS-505	Well, I think readers will have to come along bit before they'll really entrance kids. I remember the original black and white IBM PC without graphics did not have enough visual interest for my two year old. But when they went color with graphics a year later or two later he enjoyed 'reader rabbit' and other educational programs. Content on the reader must become better and more accessible for kids. My son would read something if it taught him to make something or do something. That might require video and sound. Unfortunately, that moves us away from readers and closer to book sized computers - I would call them 'N-o-t-e-b-o-o-k' computers and they could sit in your lap when you used them. I don't mean to be sarcastic. What I'm saying is that I don't think a reader is for everyone unless it crosses the boundary... but then is it still a reader, or is it a 'Notepad' computer? That's where I think it will go. I'm not terribly happy about it.