Which book for someone with a disability?

manjug · 03-09-2009, 05:00 AM

I have been considering an e-reader for myself, but have not yet bought one. But I have also been asked to help a friend who is becoming increasingly disabled to choose one, and I am not able to survey the whole market physically speaking. So I turn to you all for advice.
My friend is losing arm and hand movement through illness. She can move, but not use much, her right arm and hand, and so has basically now got the use only of her left hand, which has some strength but not as much as normal. She still has some ability in it, and can "pinch". Turning the pages of, and even holding, a normal book (particulary a paperback) is now becoming very difficult for her, even though reading is very important.
Hence my suggestion of an e-reader. She will need one in which the buttons are not too stiff, and certainly one on which the page turning buttons are easy to use in terms of size, placing and pressure. I have ruled out the irex, because while the page turn bar might be usable I think she would struggle with the stylus. I have prodded the Sony, and it might do - the page turn buttons on the right are out of the question, but the bottom left button would do, and I think it may be sufficiently proddable. But can any of you wise people, with more experience than me, help me any further? Should I be looking at anything else? It must obviously be light, but then they all qualify in that respect.

One more criterion - I am in the UK, so the machine will have to be sourced here.

I would be very grateful for any help any of you can give me

HarryT · 03-09-2009, 05:15 AM

I suspect that the Sony probably has the most easily-used page turn buttons.

Patricia · 03-09-2009, 09:39 AM

If you are near a Sony store, or a branch of Waterstone's then you and your friend could try a reader before buying.

lilac_jive · 03-09-2009, 10:01 AM

I find the buttons on the sony very "proddable." In fact, last night in bed I was laying on my side, I propped up my 505 on a pillow and just poked the buttons when I needed to turn the page.

Patricia · 03-09-2009, 11:07 AM

We have a number of members in the UK with Sony Readers.

You might want to leave a message in our "See a device in a cafe near you" thread here:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26574

If you are in South Wales, I could show you mine.

manjug · 03-10-2009, 07:07 PM

Thank you all for your helpful responses.
Patricia - thank you for your kind offer, but I and my friend are in London! I have seen the Sony myself, but my friend cannot get out to see one.
Lilac_jive - thank you for your graphic insight into your nocturnal habits!

I have decided to recommend the Sony and the Bebook. The page turning mechanism on the Cybook looks as though it will be too fiddly for my friend, and while the iRex mechanism looks very handy, she would probably find the stylus trying if not too difficult. Which leaves just Sony and Bebook (in practical terms). I had not realised that I might be able to see a BeBook in Dixons (according to its website), so I shall go and prod there.

Hantra · 03-11-2009, 12:28 AM

My wife is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and works on ADA products. She likes the Kindle 2 precisely for the buttons. They're very large, and they are on both sides. Not hard to press at all. In fact, many people complained about how easily the Kindle 1's buttons were pressed.

gwynevans · 03-11-2009, 05:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hantra

My wife is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and works on ADA products. She likes the Kindle 2 precisely for the buttons. They're very large, and they are on both sides. Not hard to press at all. In fact, many people complained about how easily the Kindle 1's buttons were pressed.

Unfortunately, the original poster's in the UK and Amazon only sells the Kindle in the USA.

03-09-2009, 05:00 AM	#1
manjug Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: None	Which book for someone with a disability? I have been considering an e-reader for myself, but have not yet bought one. But I have also been asked to help a friend who is becoming increasingly disabled to choose one, and I am not able to survey the whole market physically speaking. So I turn to you all for advice. My friend is losing arm and hand movement through illness. She can move, but not use much, her right arm and hand, and so has basically now got the use only of her left hand, which has some strength but not as much as normal. She still has some ability in it, and can "pinch". Turning the pages of, and even holding, a normal book (particulary a paperback) is now becoming very difficult for her, even though reading is very important. Hence my suggestion of an e-reader. She will need one in which the buttons are not too stiff, and certainly one on which the page turning buttons are easy to use in terms of size, placing and pressure. I have ruled out the irex, because while the page turn bar might be usable I think she would struggle with the stylus. I have prodded the Sony, and it might do - the page turn buttons on the right are out of the question, but the bottom left button would do, and I think it may be sufficiently proddable. But can any of you wise people, with more experience than me, help me any further? Should I be looking at anything else? It must obviously be light, but then they all qualify in that respect. One more criterion - I am in the UK, so the machine will have to be sourced here. I would be very grateful for any help any of you can give me

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03-09-2009, 05:15 AM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I suspect that the Sony probably has the most easily-used page turn buttons.

03-09-2009, 09:39 AM	#3
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	If you are near a Sony store, or a branch of Waterstone's then you and your friend could try a reader before buying.

03-09-2009, 10:01 AM	#4
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I find the buttons on the sony very "proddable." In fact, last night in bed I was laying on my side, I propped up my 505 on a pillow and just poked the buttons when I needed to turn the page.

03-09-2009, 11:07 AM	#5
Patricia Reader Posts: 11,504 Karma: 8720163 Join Date: May 2007 Location: South Wales, UK Device: Sony PRS-500, PRS-505, Asus EEEpc 4G	We have a number of members in the UK with Sony Readers. You might want to leave a message in our "See a device in a cafe near you" thread here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26574 If you are in South Wales, I could show you mine.

03-10-2009, 07:07 PM	#6
manjug Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2009 Device: None	Thank you all for your helpful responses. Patricia - thank you for your kind offer, but I and my friend are in London! I have seen the Sony myself, but my friend cannot get out to see one. Lilac_jive - thank you for your graphic insight into your nocturnal habits! I have decided to recommend the Sony and the Bebook. The page turning mechanism on the Cybook looks as though it will be too fiddly for my friend, and while the iRex mechanism looks very handy, she would probably find the stylus trying if not too difficult. Which leaves just Sony and Bebook (in practical terms). I had not realised that I might be able to see a BeBook in Dixons (according to its website), so I shall go and prod there.

03-11-2009, 12:28 AM	#7
Hantra Enthusiast Posts: 27 Karma: 18 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kindle 3	My wife is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and works on ADA products. She likes the Kindle 2 precisely for the buttons. They're very large, and they are on both sides. Not hard to press at all. In fact, many people complained about how easily the Kindle 1's buttons were pressed.

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