Does a layer of touch screen affect the readability

arsingh1 · 04-29-2014, 12:12 AM

Hi,
Does a layer of touch screen affect the contrast and readability in non-lighted e-readers.
To be specific a comparison between the readability and contrast of Kobo touch (non lighted ) vs Kindle Basic (non-touch and non lighted)

rollei · 04-29-2014, 12:28 AM

Should not be an issue. These days most electronics are touch screen..

eschwartz · 04-29-2014, 12:45 AM

My Kindle Touch is just as readable as my friend's Kindle Keyboard...

Lighted frontlit screens however bother certain people who find that the text seems to float under a layer of light as if seen through a window... or something like that.

GeoffR · 04-29-2014, 03:39 AM

Capacitive touch has an extra layer, but the Kobo Touch uses infra-red which has no extra layers on the screen.

wizwor · 04-29-2014, 07:39 AM

It's be best to compare specific models/screens. All things being equal, adding a layer of anything on top of an image alters the light passing through the layer.

DrNefario · 04-29-2014, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeoffR

Capacitive touch has an extra layer, but the Kobo Touch uses infra-red which has no extra layers on the screen.

Although there might end up being a layer of fingerprints.

All the touchscreen eInk readers are infrared, aren't they? It typically just means a deeper bezel.

eschwartz · 04-29-2014, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNefario

All the touchscreen eInk readers are infrared, aren't they? It typically just means a deeper bezel.

Yes, except for the ones which aren't.

Kindle PW 1/2 is capacitive Touch, and I believe the Kobo Aura. Don't know the status of any other non-Amazon devices.

Rizla · 04-29-2014, 03:12 PM

No, they seemed to have worked out how to do it without affecting text quality. That is probably not so true of a lighted screen...

Solitaire1 · 04-29-2014, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

It's be best to compare specific models/screens. All things being equal, adding a layer of anything on top of an image alters the light passing through the layer.

I have a Sony PRS-600 touch screen reader (with a non-lighted reflective screen), and the screen is noticeably less dark and less sharp than my previous Sony e-readers and my current Kobo Touch.

elemenoP · 04-30-2014, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

I have a Sony PRS-600 touch screen reader (with a non-lighted reflective screen), and the screen is noticeably less dark and less sharp than my previous Sony e-readers and my current Kobo Touch.

To be fair, the PRS-600 is five-year-old technology; today's lighted screens (like the Paperwhite 2) are much better. Yes, there is still a layer over the screen and yes, a few people are bothered by it. OP: if you go to a Best Buy, you can see the Paperwhite screen for yourself (oops, I didn't check if you are in the US or not) and at least check if the text looks clear to you or not. They may or may not have some non-lighted models in the store for comparison.

eP

[edit] I see the OP is not in the US. Well I would say that most people (including myself) are not bothered by the light layer and find the text dark and clear enough. I have heard that the text on the Kindle Basic looks a touch darker.

Barty · 05-01-2014, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elemenoP

To be fair, the PRS-600 is five-year-old technology; today's lighted screens (like the Paperwhite 2) are much better. Yes, there is still a layer over the screen and yes, a few people are bothered by it. OP: if you go to a Best Buy, you can see the Paperwhite screen for yourself (oops, I didn't check if you are in the US or not) and at least check if the text looks clear to you or not. They may or may not have some non-lighted models in the store for comparison.

eP

[edit] I see the OP is not in the US. Well I would say that most people (including myself) are not bothered by the light layer and find the text dark and clear enough. I have heard that the text on the Kindle Basic looks a touch darker.

The pw2 uses the newer carta screen which is supposed to have 25% better contrast. That the Basic's text looks darker tells you the light/touch layer has an impact.

So to answer the OP's question: yes. How much exactly is hard to say since there isn't a comparable carta reader without touch or light layer.

speakingtohe · 05-02-2014, 12:11 PM

Some of it is what you get used to.

I could read just fine on my PRS-600 an preferred it to a tablet.

I bought my mother a kindle 3 when they came out and found the screen to be much superior, but after going back to the PRS 600 I quickly became accustomed to it again and preferred it to the kindle because of ease of use and collection convenience etc.

Now I have a T3 and an Aura HD. The Aura HD may have a slight edge screen-wise, but the inconsistent page turning (skipping, backwards instead of forwards etc.) , flashing page refreshes, abysmal speed in opening collections and other wee quirks are an irritation I don't need when reading for relaxation.

The only complaint I have about the T3 is that it doesn't have a global text options like the Kobos. That option would make it pretty close to perfect for me.

I don't like reading with tablets, but I guess I could if I had to, just as I occasionally read with the Aura HD when my mother visits and leaves her kindle behind. (She is 88 and tells me the T3 is "A dear little reader" and pets it when she closes the cover so I know what to get her for her upcoming 89th birthday

)

Overall it is pretty subjective which screen is better. I get used to a change going from a 24 inch monitor to a 15 inch laptop screen in a day or so , and with an ereader the transition time is usually measured in minutes.

A good screen is important, but IMO the best screen is not necessarily the best reader.

Helen

crich70 · 05-08-2014, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rizla

No, they seemed to have worked out how to do it without affecting text quality. That is probably not so true of a lighted screen...

I use a Kindle PaperWhite 1 and have had no problems with readability (with my screen lit up).

HarryT · 05-09-2014, 05:56 AM

The capacitive touchscreen is a VERY thin (molecules thick) layer of a chemical which just makes the screen conductive. It has no visible impact on readability.

The light guides used on illuminated readers have a slight impact on readability in bright sunlight, but (IMHO) that's enormously more than compensated for my the tremendous improvement in readability that the light brings in any poorer lighting conditions.

04-29-2014, 12:12 AM	#1
arsingh1 Nameless Being	Does a layer of touch screen affect the readability Hi, Does a layer of touch screen affect the contrast and readability in non-lighted e-readers. To be specific a comparison between the readability and contrast of Kobo touch (non lighted ) vs Kindle Basic (non-touch and non lighted)

05-02-2014, 12:11 PM	#12
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	Some of it is what you get used to. I could read just fine on my PRS-600 an preferred it to a tablet. I bought my mother a kindle 3 when they came out and found the screen to be much superior, but after going back to the PRS 600 I quickly became accustomed to it again and preferred it to the kindle because of ease of use and collection convenience etc. Now I have a T3 and an Aura HD. The Aura HD may have a slight edge screen-wise, but the inconsistent page turning (skipping, backwards instead of forwards etc.) , flashing page refreshes, abysmal speed in opening collections and other wee quirks are an irritation I don't need when reading for relaxation. The only complaint I have about the T3 is that it doesn't have a global text options like the Kobos. That option would make it pretty close to perfect for me. I don't like reading with tablets, but I guess I could if I had to, just as I occasionally read with the Aura HD when my mother visits and leaves her kindle behind. (She is 88 and tells me the T3 is "A dear little reader" and pets it when she closes the cover so I know what to get her for her upcoming 89th birthday) Overall it is pretty subjective which screen is better. I get used to a change going from a 24 inch monitor to a 15 inch laptop screen in a day or so , and with an ereader the transition time is usually measured in minutes. A good screen is important, but IMO the best screen is not necessarily the best reader. Helen

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Vox vs. Dell Streak 5 - Screen Readability Outdoors	mihu	Kobo Tablets	0	12-04-2011 05:11 AM
Scanned text pdf with OCR but graphical layer instead vectorial	whopper	PDF	2	09-10-2011 06:32 PM
book reader that supports touch screen tablets and has touch control	colint3	General Discussions	1	06-22-2011 01:47 PM
Life Found in the Deepest layer of Earth's Crust	kennyc	Lounge	0	11-19-2010 05:02 PM
PRS-505 vs. 300 screen contrast and readability	Thrasher	Sony Reader	5	04-28-2010 05:46 PM

04-29-2014, 12:28 AM	#2
rollei Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 1000210 Join Date: Mar 2014 Device: Kobo	Should not be an issue. These days most electronics are touch screen..

04-29-2014, 12:45 AM	#3
eschwartz Ex-Helpdesk Junkie Posts: 19,422 Karma: 85397180 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Beaten Path, USA, Roundworld, This Side of Infinity Device: Kindle Touch fw5.3.7 (Wifi only)	My Kindle Touch is just as readable as my friend's Kindle Keyboard... Lighted frontlit screens however bother certain people who find that the text seems to float under a layer of light as if seen through a window... or something like that.

04-29-2014, 03:39 AM	#4
GeoffR Wizard Posts: 3,821 Karma: 19162882 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Te Riu-a-Māui Device: Kobo Glo	Capacitive touch has an extra layer, but the Kobo Touch uses infra-red which has no extra layers on the screen.

04-29-2014, 07:39 AM	#5
wizwor Wizard Posts: 1,068 Karma: 23867385 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	It's be best to compare specific models/screens. All things being equal, adding a layer of anything on top of an image alters the light passing through the layer.

04-29-2014, 03:12 PM	#8
Rizla Member Retired Posts: 3,183 Karma: 11721895 Join Date: Nov 2010 Device: Nook STR (rooted) & Sony T2	No, they seemed to have worked out how to do it without affecting text quality. That is probably not so true of a lighted screen...

05-09-2014, 05:56 AM	#14
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The capacitive touchscreen is a VERY thin (molecules thick) layer of a chemical which just makes the screen conductive. It has no visible impact on readability. The light guides used on illuminated readers have a slight impact on readability in bright sunlight, but (IMHO) that's enormously more than compensated for my the tremendous improvement in readability that the light brings in any poorer lighting conditions.