In the first half of 2013 a third of book sales in America consisted of e-books. Statistics like these are enough to cause bibliophiles, who worry about the future of the printed book, many a sleepless night.
A survey earlier this year by Surveymonkey should however reassure book lovers to some extent. A survey was conducted to establish the preferences of 300 American readers.
Results were unexpectedly in favour of printed books and indicated that 40% of the group only buy printed books, 50% buy both electronic and printed, while a mere 10% buy e-books only.
The main reason cited for buying traditional books was due to nostalgia, convenience and comfort. Readers still want to smell the paper and ink and hear the sound of a page turning. E-books cannot compete with the tangible characteristics of printed pages, even though manufacturers try their best to enhance their e-readers with similar functionalities.
Convenience is also listed as the main reason users buy e-readers.
With e-readers gaining popularity it’s now easier than ever to catch up on your reading while on the go. They are light and can hold more than 1000 books. Perfect for the indecisive traveler who needs a whole library at his disposal.
E-books offer greater interaction with readers. Links to web sites can be built into text, a reader can bookmark or highlight pages and the meaning of words can be looked up with a built-in dictionary.
Unfortunately this interactivity is a disadvantage when it comes to e-books for children. The Joan Ganz Cooney Center in New York did research in 2012 on the efficiency of e-books and literacy. (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jun/07/enhanced-ebooks-bad-for-children?CMP=twt_gu)
E-books with enhancements hampered with children’s concentration and distracted them to such an extent that they could recall and convey less of the actual story line.
Printed books were more effective in promoting literacy through co-reading. E-books, and in particular enhanced,interactive e-books were more useful when engaging children in the learning process and encouraging physical interaction.
There are areas where e-books offer a distinct advantage, but in the long run the choice of format will be determined by the preferences and needs of readers. Maybe we should be less concerned about choosing one format above the other – both have their advantages and can add value to the other.
Literacy should be the focus, whatever the means.
[SOURCES: www.wordalivepublishers.com, www.theguardian.com,
www.surveymonkey.com, www.spreeder.com,
www.digitaltrends.com]
In die eerste helfte van 2013 het `n derde van boekverkope in Amerika bestaan uit e-boeke. Menige bibliofiel het slapelose nagte oor die toekoms van gedrukte boeke en statistieke soos bo genoem is nie goeie leesstof vir insomnia-lyers nie.
`n Opname vroeër die jaar deur Surveymonkey behoort tot `n mate gerustellend te wees vir liefhebbers van gedrukte boeke. Die maatskappy het `n steekproef gedoen met 300 Amerikaanse lesers om te bepaal wat hul voorkeure is.
Resultate was onverwags in die guns van gedrukte boeke en het aangedui dat 40% van die groep slegs gedrukte boeke koop, 50% koop beide elektronies en gedruk, terwyl `n skrale 10% slegs e-boeke aankoop.
Nostalgie en gerief word as hoofredes vir die voorkeur van tradiosionele boeke aangevoer. Lesers wil papier en ink ruik en die klank van `n bladsy wat omblaai hoor. E-boeke kan nie met die tasbare kompeteer nie, hoewel vervaardigers hard probeer om dit op ander wyses in e-lesers in te bou.
Gemak is ook die grootste rede waarom lesers e-boeke lees.
Met die koms van die e-boek is dit makliker as ooit tevore om in te haal met jou leeswerk terwyl jy oppad is. E-lesers is lig en kan meer as 1000+ boeke bevat. Perfek vir die besluitelose reisiger wat `n hele biblioteek tot sy beskikking nodig het.
Herbenewens leen e-boeke hulle tot groter interaksie met lesers. Skakels na webwerwe kan ingebou word, bladsye kan geboekmerk word, gedeeltes gemerk en die betekenis van `n woord kan, deur middel van `n ingeboude woordeboek, vinnig opgespoor word.
Interaktiwiteit word egter `n nadeel asdit by e-boeke vir kinders kom. Die Joan Ganz Cooney Center in New York het in 2012 navorsing gedoen oor die effektiwiteit van e-boeke vir geletterdheid. (http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/jun/07/enhanced-ebooks-bad-for-children?CMP=twt_gu)
E-boeke met addisionele, interaktiewe funksies het kinders se konsentrasie belemmer en hul aandag in so `n mate afgetrek dat minder van die storielyn onthou en weergegee kon word. Gedrukte boeke was voordelig vir die aanleer van geletterdheid met behulp van saamleestegnieke. E-boeke, spesifiek interaktiewe e-boeke, was meer suksesvol om kinders betrokke te kry en aan te moedig om fisies deel te neem aan die leesproses.
Daar is areas waar die e-boek loshande voorloop, maar op die keuse van formaat word bepaal deur lesers se voorkeure en behoeftes.
Miskien moet ons nie een formaat bo die ander kies nie – beide het voordele en kan aanvullend tot mekaar wees. Geletterdheid moet eerder die fokus moet wees – op watter wyse dit ookal bewerkstellig word.
[BRONNE: www.wordalivepublishers.com, www.theguardian.com,
www.surveymonkey.com, www.spreeder.com,
www.digitaltrends.com]
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