I have had many professors that require you to print off readings and bring them to class. I always wondered why, especially in our age of heavy reliance on technology. Many chalk the difference up to generational preferences, but growing research on the subject is finding that there are benefits and downfalls to either method of reading. This article will provide the pros and cons of reading on paper versus reading on technology so that you can choose your preferred method of reading.
- The Pros & Cons of Reading on Paper
In an article in the Scientific American journal, Ferris Jabr investigates how the technology we use alters the way we read. The first pro of reading on paper is better reading comprehension. Jabr cites modern studies and surveys to assert that “...modern screens and e-readers fail to adequately recreate certain tactile experiences of reading on paper that many people miss and, more importantly, prevent people from navigating long texts in an intuitive and satisfying way. In turn, such navigational difficulties may subtly inhibit reading comprehension.” In other words, the physicality of turning each page in a book allows you to better navigate through the narrative and thus you will comprehend more.
In our age of heavy technology use, instant gratification is central to how we encounter our entertainment online. One of the downfalls to reading paper books, according to Jennifer Rizzo in her article, “The Great Reading Debate: E-Readers Vs. Paper Books,” is that you lose that instant gratification. The immediate pleasure from technology is central to our enjoyment of literature, so missing out on this could make reading in general less appealing.
- The Pros and Cons of eBooks & Online Reading
Guillermo Garzon with the Business Insider provides seven reasons why online reading is better than reading on paper. The most significant being that you have the world at your fingertips using eBooks; you may purchase and download as many books as you like and carry them with you wherever you go. Additionally, eBooks tend to be cheaper (and sometimes free!) than books on paper. Finally, with eBooks you can interact more with the text by highlighting, increasing the font, etc. This makes eBooks more efficient and accessible.
On the other hand, eBooks have a high initial cost--you have to purchase the device that you are going to read on. Also, reading for a long period of time on technology can be hard on your eyes and limit how much you read. Finally, in an article from Booksrun.com states that eBooks can be unreliable in that they don’t last forever; you would have to replace the device after some time.
What is your opinion on the eBook v. print book debate? Let us know in the comments!
Written by Amon Pierson
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