e-reader ergonomics

wolverine73 · 05-20-2015, 09:37 PM

Let me start by stating I am a big fan of the evolution of the reading experience to the e-reader medium. There is however, in my opinion, a glaring fault in the design of e-readers I have had the opportunity to handle. I'm posting here optimistic that someone influential in the industry peruses these forums and is inspired by my observation and suggestion.

E-readers are hard to hold.

My hands are growing weary of gingerly trying to squeeze with a pincer grip the thin edge of the reader that surrounds the screen, all the while fearful of inadvertently brushing the touch screen with my skin and 'flipping' the page forward or back against my wishes. I would give anything for a proper handle on the device and would gladly sacrifice size and aesthetics to achieve this end. This handle should permit the reader to hold their device in either hand as to their preference.

A proper handle, please!

Please also embed a simple mechanical switch within the handle for turning the pages forward or back, perhaps with a subtle movement fore and aft of the end of my thumb. Touch screens are nice, but it would also be very nice to have this option.

Kind regards,

Wolverine73

eschwartz · 05-21-2015, 12:21 AM

Well, I know that recent Kindles use a capacitive touchscreen -- so using gloves would mean the touchscreen isn't triggered. Meanwhile, the Voyage has page turn buttons, which might be enough for you with or without gloves.
Or older models didn't have a touchscreen at all. The Kindle Keyboard for example is still a perfectly serviceable device, and can be gotten pretty cheaply too. I am unsure what non-Amazon devices compare, though.

As a general rule of thumb, the market is heading towards touch-everything, and it is assumed that everyone can cope with them just fine.
But you don't seem to be the only one who has trouble with accidental-touch page turns.
I personally have never suffered that problem. I naturally gravitate towards holding my Kindle by the back though -- maybe that helps?

Perhaps a case would add enough bulk that you could hold it by that and thus avoid touching the screen when you don't mean to?

meeera · 05-21-2015, 07:50 AM

If you don't want a case on the device, don't want to put a Sling Grip or similar on the back, and the device size: hand size ratio is too large to comfortably hold the device as you might a smartphone, and you don't want to use a stand (if you read at a table): grab some sturdy elastic, make two loops, loop them over diagonal corners of the device so they form an X at the back of the reader, and slip your hand in.

CRussel · 05-27-2015, 06:14 PM

I tried my new Voyage without a case for several weeks. It was too thin to be comfortable. Adding the standard Amazon case was just enough extra thickness to make it comfortable. And I like the "buttons", but actually preferred the slight lip that the Paperwhite had between the bezel and the screen.

cromag · 06-04-2015, 03:02 AM

Sadly, the JetBook Lite has been discontinued. You really sound like you'd appreciate the "battery bump" on the back!

Ranny · 06-04-2015, 05:36 AM

Didn't really like using my voyage naked, tried a book cover case, that didn't really do the job either, so bought one of these and find mainly reading with hand through strap at back. Very comfortable. Case is a tad bulky but happy to accept that trade off.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage

05-20-2015, 09:37 PM	#1
wolverine73 Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2015 Device: Kobo	e-reader ergonomics Let me start by stating I am a big fan of the evolution of the reading experience to the e-reader medium. There is however, in my opinion, a glaring fault in the design of e-readers I have had the opportunity to handle. I'm posting here optimistic that someone influential in the industry peruses these forums and is inspired by my observation and suggestion. E-readers are hard to hold. My hands are growing weary of gingerly trying to squeeze with a pincer grip the thin edge of the reader that surrounds the screen, all the while fearful of inadvertently brushing the touch screen with my skin and 'flipping' the page forward or back against my wishes. I would give anything for a proper handle on the device and would gladly sacrifice size and aesthetics to achieve this end. This handle should permit the reader to hold their device in either hand as to their preference. A proper handle, please! Please also embed a simple mechanical switch within the handle for turning the pages forward or back, perhaps with a subtle movement fore and aft of the end of my thumb. Touch screens are nice, but it would also be very nice to have this option. Kind regards, Wolverine73

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Ergonomics and the e-book Reader	Anthem	General Discussions	37	01-27-2011 02:29 AM
eBook Reader ergonomics discussion	Spiffy	General Discussions	47	07-12-2010 06:07 PM
Ergonomics for Hardware?	emellaich	News	14	06-03-2009 05:30 PM
Sony Reader physical ergonomics	Xenophon	Sony Reader	26	11-29-2006 05:58 PM
Ergonomics of ereading	Liviu_5	Which one should I buy?	3	07-06-2006 01:04 PM

05-21-2015, 12:21 AM	#2
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,421 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	Well, I know that recent Kindles use a capacitive touchscreen -- so using gloves would mean the touchscreen isn't triggered. Meanwhile, the Voyage has page turn buttons, which might be enough for you with or without gloves. Or older models didn't have a touchscreen at all. The Kindle Keyboard for example is still a perfectly serviceable device, and can be gotten pretty cheaply too. I am unsure what non-Amazon devices compare, though. As a general rule of thumb, the market is heading towards touch-everything, and it is assumed that everyone can cope with them just fine. But you don't seem to be the only one who has trouble with accidental-touch page turns. I personally have never suffered that problem. I naturally gravitate towards holding my Kindle by the back though -- maybe that helps? Perhaps a case would add enough bulk that you could hold it by that and thus avoid touching the screen when you don't mean to?

05-21-2015, 07:50 AM	#3
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,670 Karma: 66420972 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	If you don't want a case on the device, don't want to put a Sling Grip or similar on the back, and the device size: hand size ratio is too large to comfortably hold the device as you might a smartphone, and you don't want to use a stand (if you read at a table): grab some sturdy elastic, make two loops, loop them over diagonal corners of the device so they form an X at the back of the reader, and slip your hand in.

05-27-2015, 06:14 PM	#4
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,170 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	I tried my new Voyage without a case for several weeks. It was too thin to be comfortable. Adding the standard Amazon case was just enough extra thickness to make it comfortable. And I like the "buttons", but actually preferred the slight lip that the Paperwhite had between the bezel and the screen.

06-04-2015, 03:02 AM	#5
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 24,492 Karma: 459220161 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Sadly, the JetBook Lite has been discontinued. You really sound like you'd appreciate the "battery bump" on the back!

06-04-2015, 05:36 AM	#6
Ranny Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 1000000 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: none	Didn't really like using my voyage naked, tried a book cover case, that didn't really do the job either, so bought one of these and find mainly reading with hand through strap at back. Very comfortable. Case is a tad bulky but happy to accept that trade off. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...rch_detailpage