Using your finger as a reading aid/pacer

Be Szpilman · 10-06-2008, 10:06 PM

First of all, let me say I just got a PRS505, very aware of the new model, and am loving the baby. I'm quite skeptical with the PRS700, with it's buttons and looks redesign, and then the touch screen functionality has me a little worried due to my reading habits.

As some may know, many speed reading techniques have at their heart the use of the finger (or a stylus, for that matter) as a reading pacer, and as we all know, the reader will make use of swipes for page turning. Considering I'm always swiping through the lines as I read, I'm wondering how this will play with the reader's inputs. I'm thinking even if there's a speed threshold for the swipe to be recognized, a fast reader can always surpass it. So the touch controls MUST be optional. And then, if I must use the 'old style', of pressing a button, how reachable and comfortable is that for any hand (left or right), and for any screen orientation ? I know I like the current 505 button setup.

Lastly, these questions may be for speculative discussion, for a Sony rep, to someone who got or will get hands on, for after release, or, if all fail, rethoric.

Edit: By "MUST be optional", I mean I have to be able to turn them OFF. Just not using is not enough in this case. But then not all touch controls, since maybe marking up a word, and hopefully looking it up with a dictionary function, won't interfere as much.

pilotbob · 10-06-2008, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bzpilman

I'm quite skeptical with the PRS700, with it's buttons and looks redesign, and then the touch screen functionality has me a little worried due to my reading habits.

Don't worry... be happy. It is supposed to be configurable to tap, left swipe, right swipe. I would be surprised if you couldn't turn it off too. Do you actually have to touch the screen to speed read?

BOb

Be Szpilman · 10-06-2008, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Don't worry... be happy. It is supposed to be configurable to tap, left swipe, right swipe. I would be surprised if you couldn't turn it off too. Do you actually have to touch the screen to speed read?

BOb

Yes, I do have to touch it. In fact, I don't ever lose contact with the screen until the page is over and I'm back to the top.

Because of that, I guess I would be okay with tapping, since I'm not doing anything close to tapping while perusing the lines. I wouldn't want to turn off the touch screen completely, especially if dictionary support is offered up.

Hovering over the screen is too strainful on the fingers, not worth it.
Speaking of which, for all people worried about what the swiping motion will do to the screen, I'm happy to report I'm rubbing the display 99% of my reading time and it looks just as crisp as always, not greasy in the slightest.

pilotbob · 10-07-2008, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bzpilman

I'm happy to report I'm rubbing the display 99% of my reading time and it looks just as crisp as always, not greasy in the slightest.

And you could always wear white gloves... while you eread at the gentleman's club.

BOb

Be Szpilman · 10-07-2008, 12:54 AM

Quote:

And you could always wear white gloves... while you eread at the gentleman's club.

And I would always stop midway through a book to drink the afternoon tea with the guys. That would be my only interaction with human beings there. Arthur C. Clarke would be too jealous of anymore.

nexgen · 11-28-2008, 01:00 AM

I'm also wondering same thing about the PRS-700. Can anyone who have used this device post their feedback on this. Can we turn off the touch screen when we are speed reading using finger as a pacer?

Andybaby · 11-28-2008, 07:10 PM

you cant turn of the touch screen, but its not that sensitive.

Ervserver · 11-29-2008, 12:21 AM

I'm sure the touchscreen is fine, just don't use it while eating fried chicken

Andybaby · 11-29-2008, 04:19 AM

well you wouldnt want to read a book with greesy fingers either.

all in all the touch screen is intuitive and it just works. the same force you need to turn a paper page is the right force to turn the page on this. anything short of that is hit or miss, and most of the time miss. and thats when i want to change the page
i have never accidently changed the page on this

on the kindle that happened once ever 25 pages.
on the prs 500 that happened once ever 50 pages.

i would always leave my finger over the page turn button. but accidental page turns just dont happen with this device

10-06-2008, 10:06 PM	#1
Be Szpilman Fetch that LRF Posts: 63 Karma: 44 Join Date: Jul 2008 Device: Sony Reader PRS-505, Treo 650	Using your finger as a reading aid/pacer First of all, let me say I just got a PRS505, very aware of the new model, and am loving the baby. I'm quite skeptical with the PRS700, with it's buttons and looks redesign, and then the touch screen functionality has me a little worried due to my reading habits. As some may know, many speed reading techniques have at their heart the use of the finger (or a stylus, for that matter) as a reading pacer, and as we all know, the reader will make use of swipes for page turning. Considering I'm always swiping through the lines as I read, I'm wondering how this will play with the reader's inputs. I'm thinking even if there's a speed threshold for the swipe to be recognized, a fast reader can always surpass it. So the touch controls MUST be optional. And then, if I must use the 'old style', of pressing a button, how reachable and comfortable is that for any hand (left or right), and for any screen orientation ? I know I like the current 505 button setup. Lastly, these questions may be for speculative discussion, for a Sony rep, to someone who got or will get hands on, for after release, or, if all fail, rethoric. Edit: By "MUST be optional", I mean I have to be able to turn them OFF. Just not using is not enough in this case. But then not all touch controls, since maybe marking up a word, and hopefully looking it up with a dictionary function, won't interfere as much. Last edited by Be Szpilman; 10-06-2008 at 10:10 PM. Reason: Extra info & clearing up

11-28-2008, 01:00 AM	#6
nexgen Junior Member Posts: 9 Karma: 10 Join Date: Nov 2008 Device: none	Any update on this? I'm also wondering same thing about the PRS-700. Can anyone who have used this device post their feedback on this. Can we turn off the touch screen when we are speed reading using finger as a pacer?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Classic Nook touchscreen and finger nails?	Boston	Barnes & Noble NOOK	6	01-03-2010 08:19 PM
Visual Aid?	DixieGal	IMP	4	05-08-2008 05:56 PM
Anyone have Reader sweat (condensation by your finger)?	Bob Russell	Sony Reader	11	11-20-2006 12:24 PM
Irex Illiad to be used as a aviation aid	Adam	iRex	13	07-23-2006 01:35 PM
Tiny microphones will aid VOIP adoption	Bob Russell	Lounge	0	03-01-2006 05:56 PM

11-28-2008, 07:10 PM	#7
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	you cant turn of the touch screen, but its not that sensitive.

11-29-2008, 12:21 AM	#8
Ervserver Wizard Posts: 2,624 Karma: 1008294 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Iowa, USA Device: Nook Simple Touch	I'm sure the touchscreen is fine, just don't use it while eating fried chicken

11-29-2008, 04:19 AM	#9
Andybaby Wizard Posts: 1,279 Karma: 1002683 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New York Device: PRS-700	well you wouldnt want to read a book with greesy fingers either. all in all the touch screen is intuitive and it just works. the same force you need to turn a paper page is the right force to turn the page on this. anything short of that is hit or miss, and most of the time miss. and thats when i want to change the page i have never accidently changed the page on this on the kindle that happened once ever 25 pages. on the prs 500 that happened once ever 50 pages. i would always leave my finger over the page turn button. but accidental page turns just dont happen with this device

Advert

Advert