Ebook reeaders make reading too easy

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by bhartman36

What the article is saying is counterintuitive to me. Having to decipher someone's handwriting, or make out poorly-chosen fonts on a paper (or any other) page take my focus off the content.

I think it applies to 'easy to read' handwriting, according to each person's taste of course however uggggly your handwriting is you can still read it

[BlueJean]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

IMO, the hand writing is easier to remember because each letter is unique - especially if it is written by fountain pen. that's why everytime I have something that needs reading many times, I usually write it down in 2-3 colors of ink and use many highlighters (even if the handout/outline are printed). that truly helps with remembering text.

I think this could be connected with different brain areas getting activated by just reading or by writing something down. For my own learning purposes, I noticed (for me) there is no difference whether I write the stuff down by hand or type it into a document, it's the additional time spent with writing down/rephrasing things/summarizing content which helps me to remember.
Others seem to remember stuff better if they listen to it, it seems there are several "brain configurations" for learning/remembering out there.

[lenseman]

Originally Posted by BlueJean

I think this could be connected with different brain areas getting activated by just reading or by writing something down. For my own learning purposes, I noticed (for me) there is no difference whether I write the stuff down by hand or type it into a document, it's the additional time spent with writing down/rephrasing things/summarizing content which helps me to remember.
Others seem to remember stuff better if they listen to it, it seems there are several "brain configurations" for learning/remembering out there.

@BlueJean

Each person learns from one of three different means better than the other two. Those are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. It seems (and I could be wrong) that you are kinesthetic, in that you feel out the words you are putting down and that is how they get ingrained into your mind.

I am visual. If I write something down and I need to recall it later I actually visualize the page with the words on it and it's like I am really reading it.

[CazMar]

Originally Posted by BlueJean

I think this could be connected with different brain areas getting activated by just reading or by writing something down. For my own learning purposes, I noticed (for me) there is no difference whether I write the stuff down by hand or type it into a document, it's the additional time spent with writing down/rephrasing things/summarizing content which helps me to remember.
Others seem to remember stuff better if they listen to it, it seems there are several "brain configurations" for learning/remembering out there.

Writing things down is useless for me as I can barely read my own writing! But because I have to type things I find this works probably just as well as writing them (because that's what I'm used to doing). Being a musician I find that listening to things is very good - mainly for language learning and of course any music. Sometimes a lot of dry academic stuff will just make me sleepy, but if I have to remember dates or lists then listening is the only way I will retain the information. Prior to universal literacy and access to books people were able to memorise whole works by Homer or the Koran by singing them. Perhaps a pop tune listing all the elements in the periodic table or an ode based on the Tax Act? Might work!

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by lenseman

@BlueJean

Each person learns from one of three different means better than the other two. Those are visual, auditory and kinesthetic. It seems (and I could be wrong) that you are kinesthetic, in that you feel out the words you are putting down and that is how they get ingrained into your mind.

I am visual. If I write something down and I need to recall it later I actually visualize the page with the words on it and it's like I am really reading it.

Something I was able to do in my earlier years. No longer unfortunately ...

[maianhvk]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Something I was able to do in my earlier years. No longer unfortunately ...

huh? that ability will disappear when we grow older??

I hope not like you and lenseman, I 'see' the page in my head whenever I need to recall the details on it, as if I were reading it actually. it helps a lot!

[screwballl]

This is just more scare tactics brought on by a combination of technophobia and kainotophobia (fear of change).

People through the past several hundred years took the time to read books. It does not matter if it is a book on an electronic device or a paper book, retention should be the same, which is based on the person.

Now if you consider more people that simply love and live by technology that have existing "conditions" like short attention spans and lack of material retention will be getting these ereaders, simply because they are technology based, are added to the existing core of people that already read plenty paper and ebooks, and retain a decent amount, the overall results will be skewed. It will appear that people with ereaders have a lower attention span and retention than those reading paper books.

So there needs to be a weighted set of averages, to concentrate on people that have previously or continue to read paper based books which allows for a proper set of data relating to attention spans and retention of material.

[DMB]

I am 70 and I certainly lost my photographic recall of book pages (it was most useful for getting through school exams).

I greatly prefer getting typed letters to most handwritten ones. It seems to be an example of sod's law that the people with the worst writing are the ones that handwrite letters. I'm afraid that with most of them I don't bother to read them. I put them aside thinking, "I'll get round to puzzling them out when I have the time." I then find them 18 months later and chuck them out.

[Selene]

It could also be that people who are not accustomed to using computers for their daily work, to underestimate them as a credible source when it comes to important information (like scientific information) and therefore to feel like ignoring the written word on a screen. They would be more willing to pay attention to printed books and magazines, because habit has made them authority figures when it comes to information. What's to be taken more seriously: a blog page or a book page with the same content and by the same author?

For me, lapses in attention when reading from a computer screen happen either because of the eyestrain, which makes it difficult for me to read, or because I get bored with the information (especially dull academic texts). But if I read something I love, font doesn't matter, screen doesn't matter, only the words matter, and I remember them. So I agree with the people who say that interest in the topic you're reading about is more important than what you're reading it from.

[bluezhift]

After reading the article, I thought a bit about one of the things I like best about e-ink readers. I liked how it looked so much like print on paper. If retention really is a problem, and even if it isn't, I think it would be cool if one could set the page texture.

Customizing the page texture and perhaps font sharpness might add enough noise to improve retention. Beyond that, imagine being able to make the pages of some classic fantasy novel look like it was printed on yellowing parchment paper!

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by Selene

It could also be that people who are not accustomed to using computers for their daily work, to underestimate them as a credible source when it comes to important information (like scientific information) and therefore to feel like ignoring the written word on a screen. They would be more willing to pay attention to printed books and magazines, because habit has made them authority figures when it comes to information. What's to be taken more seriously: a blog page or a book page with the same content and by the same author?

For me, lapses in attention when reading from a computer screen happen either because of the eyestrain, which makes it difficult for me to read, or because I get bored with the information (especially dull academic texts). But if I read something I love, font doesn't matter, screen doesn't matter, only the words matter, and I remember them. So I agree with the people who say that interest in the topic you're reading about is more important than what you're reading it from.

I think that is a big part of it, they think that words on an electronic device holds less weight than printed words on paper. Yet when it is literally the EXACT same content and wording, it is these last holdouts of the technophobia generation that puts out articles like this.

[bhartman36]

Originally Posted by screwballl

This is just more scare tactics brought on by a combination of technophobia and kainotophobia (fear of change).

Exactly this.

At a minimum, there should be a greater study size before people start spouting stuff like this.

[BecomingMe]

Anyone else notice the study size?

Researchers asked 28 participants aged 18 to 40 to learn a set of facts about three fictional species of alien, which were written in different fonts

No other facts about the sample or other factors that were included or excluded...honestly a study of 28 is quite low...and it doesn't take into account people learning habits or styles (I'm one of those who can remember a LOT of useless info found in so many different sources from TV to internet to books...)

But I agree that it seems that he was trying to prove a preexisting premise that ebooks are somehow not the same as "real" books type thing (which if you cannot hold a book due to arthritis or other issues, the is more than somewhat short sighted and condescending)...I have a love for both, but I do not think one is better than the other..in my case, I can hold the e-book better than the paper book...esp the Baroque Cycle books, or a Robert Jordan book...

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by maianhvk

huh? that ability will disappear when we grow older??

I hope not like you and lenseman, I 'see' the page in my head whenever I need to recall the details on it, as if I were reading it actually. it helps a lot!

Originally Posted by DMB

I am 70 and I certainly lost my photographic recall of book pages (it was most useful for getting through school exams).


.

Phew ... and I thought it was just me ....

Mayhap PC use was to blame as written information became electronic in nature - once one was 'forced' to use this reference, the ability was lost through 'lack of use' or irritation at the change (I cannot remember the instance(s)). Though I know I did begin to resent the 'do not print and read' instruction so perhaps this is part of a sub-conscious switch being turned in my brain .... .... Once lost, now gone.

Interesting thought ....

[Joykins]

Surely I retain more by reading--ooh! look! shiny stuff!