E-readers a boost for older readers
Thinking about buying an e-reader? You may say you're a naysayer, but your eyes will vote aye.
Scientific measurements of the eyes of older adults showed that reading text on an e-reader or tablet computer required less effort than reading text printed on paper, according to a new study.
But after the study, participants overwhelmingly said they preferred reading on paper. Researchers noted that people's "subjective evaluation of digital reading media" does not match up with the scientifically measured results and may be part of a preconceived notion about the devices. In fact, researchers said many older adults benefit from using e-readers and tablets with backlit displays because of the improved contrast between words and screen.
The study, conducted by researchers from Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany, was published last month in the scientific journal PLoS One.