Proinflow : časopis pro informační vědy 2/2014
Future of digital reading through the lens of Horizon
scanning
Tomáš Bouda
Division of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University Brno
Recenzenti:
doc. PhDr. Mgr. Richard Papík, Ph.D.
Ing. Jiří Pavlík
Abstract:
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the future of digital reading
and present possible scenarios for designing digital reading experience.
Author uses a foresight method called Horizon scanning which consists
of desk research focusing on published experimental research studies
within the field of reading on screen and on paper. Psychological and
cognitive aspects of reading are presented here. Second part of the
Horizon scanning method is a review of up-to-day emerging
technological trends. Possible future scenarios for digital reading are
discussed.
Keywords:
design, Horizon scanning, reading, digital reading, foresight, trends,
psychology, cognition
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
2
1 Introduction
New mobile devices have become widespread and people use it for everyday tasks such
as communication, entertainment or work. Reading electronic text is one of the most
common activities people do when they communicate through SMS, browse emails, while
googling new information, when they follow Facebook or Twitter streams or check news
using personalized magazines and RSS readers. Academics, researchers and students read
journal articles in PDF format and use annotations. There is a large e-book market, which
supplies people with novels. Purpose of this paper is to propose possible future scenarios
for digital reading.
We know reading electronic text is not equal to reading on paper. Printed book, as it
had been designed for centuries, is the most usable reading medium of its kind. There is
not much to improve. Reader can usually hold it in one hand, navigate through pages easily
and have a sense of how many pages there are still left to read. On the other side, tablets
and smartphones with interactive screens have been here only for few years. There are
plenty of devices and reading applications for various operation systems. The quality and
usability of those applications differ significantly. Research studies say electronic texts
influence speed of reading, remembering and cognition. Well-designed applications could
bridge the gap between reading on paper and reading electronic text. That could be
achieved if designers of electronic text or e-readers applications were familiar with recent
scientific research findings, which are often based on experimental methods such as eyetracking,
EEG or fMRI techniques. Designers should also follow new technological trends
within the field such as Spritz application1 etc.
Major science fields which define and examine reading are presented in the following
paragraph. Recent research findings serve as a framework for this paper. Reading is
defined differently by many researchers. Dillon2 presents various approaches to reading in
his book. New thoughts on reading process originated as a secondary product of
psychology or cognitive research studies on memory or learning. At first reading was
understood as a linear model (from visual input to comprehension). More complex and
contemporary cognitive theory of reading was proposed by McClelland and Rumelhart3.
Multi-level reading process was defined by Beaugrande4 for instance. Underwood and
Batt5 introduced reading as a problem solving and information processing task. Kline
points out that prior psychological and cognitive research studies missed practical insights.
According to him people “read for pleasure or to gain information. Furthermore, reading
has serious emotional connotation on occasion.”6 Reading is not only about information
processing or dealing with lack of knowledge. Reading influences human emotions and
feelings. Psychology and cognitive sciences are not the only research fields with a
theoretical interest in reading. Hatt7 for example encourages information scientists and
librarians to take part in the research due to their natural interest in the reading process
1 SPRITZ. Spritz [online]. [cit. 2014-10-17]. Available from: http://www.spritzinc.com/
2 DILLON, Andrew. Designing usable electronic text. 2nd ed. New York: Taylor, 2003, viii, 214 p. ISBN 04-152-
4060-3.
3 MCCLELLAND, James L. a David E. RUMELHART. An interactive activation model of context effects in letter
perception: I. An account of basic findings. Psychological Review. 1981, vol. 88, issue 5, s. 375-407. DOI:
10.1037/0033-295X.88.5.375. Available from: http://content.apa.org/journals/rev/88/5/375
4 BEAUGRANDE, Robert De. Design Criteria for Process Models of Reading. Reading Research Quarterly. 1981,
vol. 16, issue 2, s. 261-. DOI: 10.2307/747559. Available from:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/747559?origin=crossref
5 UNDERWOOD, Geoffrey a Vivienne BATT. Reading and understanding: an introduction to the psychology of
reading. Cambridge, Mass., USA: Blackwell Publishers, 1996, xii, 244 p. ISBN 06-311-7949-6.
6 DILLON, Andrew. Designing usable electronic text. 2nd ed. New York: Taylor, 2003, viii, 214 p. ISBN 04-152-
4060-3. str.
7 HATT, Frank. The reading process: a framework for analysis and description. Hamden, Conn.: Linnet Books,
1976, 124 p. ISBN 02-080-1523-X.
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
3
and designing electronic text for reading. Lately Berns et al.8 proved that reading novels causes
measurable changes in resting-state connectivity of the brain. This is one of contributions of
neuroscience to the reading research field. Digital reading, by definition, is also examined by
the human-computer interaction field which contains interaction design and user experience.
To summarize this chapter, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, information and
library science and human-computer interaction are the fields researching digital reading.
2 Methodology
The paper applies Horizon scanning9 as a foresight research method to find useful insights
insights in the area of designing usable electronic text and applications for digital reading. The
The goal of the method is to analyse past and present evolution within a specific area and to
to predict possible future scenarios.
For analysing past evolution of psychological and cognitive aspects of reading, desk
research had been done. Relevant databases and journals on Masaryk University and Google
scholar were searched using following keywords: digital reading, screen-based reading,
psychology, cognition, reading. Desk research was conducted in February and March 2014.
Secondarily analysis of social media with the aim of identifying cutting-edge technologies
and approaches to digital reading had been done. Following Twitter hashtags10 and saved
searches11 were used for filtering posted information: (#neurology AND #reading) OR
(#psychology AND #reading) OR (#cognition AND #reading); (#ux AND #reading) OR
(#cognition AND #reading) OR (#usability AND #reading).
Qualitative analysis of records had been done afterwards. Relevant recent research studies
and their findings on digital and paper reading are presented in Chapter 3. Based on Twitter
saved searches, up-to-date technologies and approaches to digital reading were chosen. The
filtering was done through perceived potential and frequency of occurrence within the Twitter
stream. Findings from this part of research can be found in Chapter 4.
Building on the aforementioned analysis future possible trends and scenarios are
presented and discussed in Chapter 5.
3 Reading digital and print
To understand reading features, differences between reading digital and print are
presented. Experimental research on reading and reading habits has a long history. How do
people perceive text? How should text be structured in order to be more readable or how do
demographic factors influence reading preferences? These questions and many others have
been objects of research for last fifty years. Let us describe what main research has been done
in this area and present its key outcomes.
8 BERNS, Gregory S., Kristina BLAINE, Michael J. PRIETULA a Brandon E. PYE. Short- and Long-Term Effects
of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain. Brain Connectivity. 2013, roč. 3, č. 6, s. 590-600.
9 BROWN, D. Horizon scanning and the business environment — the implications for risk management. BT
Technology Journal. 2007, vol. 25, issue 1, s. 208-214. DOI: 10.1007/s10550-007-0022-8. Available from:
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10550-007-0022-8
10 TWITTER. Using hashtags on Twitter [online]. [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
http://support.twitter.com/groups/53-discover/topics/216-trends/articles/49309-using-hashtags-on-twitter
11 TWITTER. Saving searches [online]. [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
https://support.twitter.com/articles/96646-how-to-save-searches
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
4
Dillon12 published a critical review of literature describing differences, pros and cons
of digital and printed documents. Similar study published by Noyes and Garland13 agrees
that digital reading and reading of printed documents will never become equal. We present
concrete cognitive aspects of reading in following paragraphs.
3.1 Accuracy
Both of those studies conclude respondents reading paper documents are better in
of accuracy and speed. On a contrary research by Mayes et al.14 presents reading on screen
faster.
3.2 Comprehension
Text comprehension is another cognitive aspect of reading which was analysed. Both,
Dillon15 and Noyes and Garland16, presented studies conclude that comprehension is better
case of reading on paper. The problem is studies applied different methodologies. Another
weakness of the studies is that research was done using older display technologies. But also
recent research confirms paper as a medium is better for comprehension, as Mangen et
al.17 proposed.
3.3 Remembering and Learning
Process of remembering has become object of research as well. Ackerman’s and
Goldsmith’s results say people learn better from a paper-based medium18. Moreover, the
ability of remembering was again better when using paper. These findings are supported
by research done by Wu and Chen19. They observed students reading and browsing couple
paragraphs of digital text. When they found it valuable, they printed it for further and
deeper reading.
3.4 Stress
There are other cognitive aspects of reading. Wästlund et al. presented a study, where
respondents were more stressed and exhausted by using digital media compared to those
who used print media20.
12 DILLON, ANDREW. Reading from paper versus screens: a critical review of the empirical literature.
Ergonomics [online]. 1992, vol. 35, issue 10, s. 1297-1326 [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI: 10.1080/00140139208967394.
Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140139208967394
13 NOYES, Jan M. a Kate J. GARLAND. Computer- vs. paper-based tasks: Are they equivalent?. Ergonomics
[online]. 2008, vol. 51, issue 9, s. 1352-1375 [cit. 2014-04-03]. DOI: 10.1080/00140130802170387. Available
from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140130802170387
14 MAYES, Daniel K, Valerie K SIMS a Jefferson M KOONCE. Comprehension and workload differences for VDT
and paper-based reading. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics [online]. 2001, vol. 28, issue 6, s. 367-
378 [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI: 10.1016/S0169-8141(01)00043-9. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169814101000439
15 DILLON, ANDREW. Reading from paper versus screens: a critical review of the empirical literature.
Ergonomics [online]. 1992, vol. 35, issue 10, s. 1297-1326 [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI: 10.1080/00140139208967394.
Available from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140139208967394
16 NOYES, Jan M. a Kate J. GARLAND. Computer- vs. paper-based tasks: Are they equivalent?. Ergonomics
[online]. 2008, vol. 51, issue 9, s. 1352-1375 [cit. 2014-04-03]. DOI: 10.1080/00140130802170387. Available
from: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140130802170387
17 MANGEN, Anne, Bente R. WALGERMO a Kolbjørn BRØNNICK. Reading linear texts on paper versus computer
screen: Effects on reading comprehension. International Journal of Educational Research [online]. 2013, vol. 58,
s. 61-68 [cit. 2014-03-30]. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijer.2012.12.002. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0883035512001127
18 ACKERMAN, Rakefet a Morris GOLDSMITH. Metacognitive regulation of text learning: On screen versus on
paper. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied [online]. 2011, vol. 17, issue 1, s. 18-32 [cit. 2014-03-17].
DOI: 10.1037/a0022086. Available from: http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/a0022086
19 WU, Ming-der a Shih-chuan CHEN. Graduate students' usage of and attitudes towards e-books: experiences
from Taiwan. Program: electronic library and information systems [online]. 2011, vol. 45, issue 3, s. 294-307
[cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI: 10.1108/00330331111151601. Available from:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00330331111151601
20 WÄSTLUND, Erik, Henrik REINIKKA, Torsten NORLANDER a Trevor ARCHER. Effects of VDT and paper
presentation on consumption and production of information: Psychological and physiological factors. Computers
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
5
Recently published research by Kretzschmar et al. suggests that we must disassociate
people’s subjective evaluation of digital reading and their actual cognitive effort. People usually
usually choose paper as more readable compared to e-readers and tablets. But EEG and eyeeye-tracking
measures show reading using tablet is better (less cognitive effort) than paper,
especially for older people21.
3.5 Digital reading behaviour
If we take a closer look at reading in digital environment, we recognize specific reading
habits. For instance Liu concludes that people spend more time scanning, browsing, keyword
keyword spotting, one-time reading or non-linear reading22. See table 1 showing an increased
increased frequency of selected digital reading habits. According to Liu people read more
selectively and do not read in depth23. Cull agrees and describes phenomenon of Tunnel vision
vision and Marginal destruction24.
Table 1 An increased frequency of selected digital reading habits25.
3.6 Tactile experience
Payne and Reader proposed the idea of mental models, which are developed in reader's
mind during reading26. Li et al. call it cognitive maps27. (1) Knowing where we are, (2) what we
have already read and (3) how many pages are left till the end of the text seem to be crucial for
navigation and orientation. In case of printed books tactile experience enables users to
construct their mental or cognitive models more easily.
in Human Behavior [online]. 2005, vol. 21, issue 2, s. 377-394 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2004.02.007.
Available from: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0747563204000202
21 KRETZSCHMAR, Franziska, Dominique PLEIMLING, Jana HOSEMANN, Stephan FÜSSEL, Ina
BORNKESSEL-SCHLESEWSKY, Matthias SCHLESEWSKY a Thomas BORAUD. Subjective Impressions Do Not
Mirror Online Reading Effort: Concurrent EEG-Eyetracking Evidence from the Reading of Books and Digital
Media. PLoS ONE [online]. 2013-2-6, vol. 8, issue 2, e56178- [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0056178. Available from: http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056178
22 LIU, Ziming. Reading behavior in the digital environment: Changes in reading behavior over the past ten years.
Journal of Documentation [online]. 2005, vol. 61, issue 6, s. 700-712 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI:
10.1108/00220410510632040. Available from: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00220410510632040
23 LIU, Ziming. Reading behavior in the digital environment: Changes in reading behavior over the past ten years.
Journal of Documentation [online]. 2005, vol. 61, issue 6, s. 700-712 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI:
10.1108/00220410510632040. Available from: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00220410510632040
24 CULL, Barry W. Reading revolutions: Online digital text and implications for reading in academe. First Monday
[online]. 2011-06-06, vol. 16, issue 6, s. - [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI: 10.5210/fm.v16i6.3340. Available from:
http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3340
25 LIU, Ziming. Reading behavior in the digital environment: Changes in reading behavior over the past ten years.
Journal of Documentation [online]. 2005, vol. 61, issue 6, s. 700-712 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI:
10.1108/00220410510632040. Available from: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00220410510632040,
str. 706.
26 PAYNE, Stephen J. a William R. READER. Constructing structure maps of multiple on-line texts. International
Journal of Human-Computer Studies [online]. 2006, vol. 64, issue 5, s. 461-474 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI:
10.1016/j.ijhcs.2005.09.003. Available from: http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1071581905001722
27 LI, Liang-Yi, Gwo-Dong CHEN a Sheng-Jie YANG. Construction of cognitive maps to improve e-book reading
and navigation. Computers & Education [online]. 2013, vol. 60, issue 1, s. 32-39 [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI:
10.1016/j.compedu.2012.07.010. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0360131512001704
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
6
Mangen at al. presume digital readers miss the tactile experience of printed medium.
They lose sense of control over text and they have difficulties with navigating through
pages and locating concrete information28.
4 Emerging technologies and approaches
There are several interesting emerging technologies and approaches to digital reading.
Some of them are broad concepts which affect how people filter and choose information to
read. There are also couple specific technologies with a great potential of becoming
widespread.
4.1 Digital curation
Still more and more information becomes digitally curated. If we use Facebook,
so called personal magazines, we consume information, which was personalized based on
prior interest and reading history. Such systems, which use this type of curation, decide
information is displayed, what is hidden and in what form the content appears. This
is mainly based on analysis of big amount of data we produce. Technology of algorithmic
curation29 seems to have a certain degree of influence on our world view and therefore
our social behaviour. Using Human-computer interaction terminology we can classify it as
social computing. Such approach has been implemented by Facebook, Amazon or Zite for
instance.
4.2 Personalized magazines
Self-curated content has become popular recently. Readers not only follow curated
news, they like to curate and share their own topical collections of articles within the
community as well. There are online services such as Flipboard, Zite or Paper.li, which
allow users to distribute their curated content in a form of beautifully designed personal
magazines or newspapers.
Effects of these applications on reading have not been objects of research yet. But
design of magazine-like information sources is discussed in a context of learning for
instance30. The more people read on tablets and smartphones, the more such applications
will spread among people. In 2014 Flipboard aims to pass 150 Million users31.
4.3 Fast reading technologies
As we have mentioned above, reading behaviour changes to skimming, spotting
keywords and nonlinear reading in digital environment. Tendency seems to be that people
do not want to spend much of their time by reading. They want to read as fast as possible.
From a technical perspective, wearables such as smart watches or glasses provide users
short and quick chunks of information. The reason is to avoid taking too much of user’s
attention and to allow them to focus on their physical surroundings and real world
situations. One such innovative technology, which has been introduced recently, is called
Spritz. It enables users to read 80% faster due to reduction of eye movement. It displays
just one word at a time. The word displayed is aligned to the center of the screen based on
28 MANGEN, Anne, Bente R. WALGERMO a Kolbjørn BRØNNICK. Reading linear texts on paper versus
computer screen: Effects on reading comprehension. International Journal of Educational Research [online].
2013, vol. 58, s. 61-68 [cit. 2014-03-30]. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijer.2012.12.002. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0883035512001127
29 RADER, Emilee a Paul ROSE. BITLAB. Effects of automated information selection and presentation in online
information systems [online]. [cit. 2014-04-13]. Available from: http://bitlab.cas.msu.edu/curation/
30 FLIPBOARD. Flipboard for Educators [online]. 2013 [cit. 2014-10-17]. Available from:
http://inside.flipboard.com/2013/08/29/flipboard-for-educators/
31 CARDEW, Ben. GUARDIAN. Personalised digital magazine app Flipboard aims for 150 million users [online].
2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from: http://www.theguardian.com/media/media-blog/2014/jan/12/digital-
magazine-app-flipboard
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
7
its Optimal recognition point32. Nowadays Spritz is available for developers of mobile
applications. It can be implemented into web pages too.
There is a strong interest in implementing Spritz technology into wearables. On the other
other hand there are cautious opinions on psychological and cognitive aspects of reading using
using Spritz. It is very often criticized for problematic information processing and significantly
significantly less control33. Readers can have difficulties with the text flow. What happens when
when reader wants to re-read the last paragraph because something was not understood
correctly? Spritz also requires high level of attention not to miss any word. It is question how
how much mental effort user must spend on concentration34.
Fig. 1. Screenshot of A Fast reader35 based on Spritz technology.
4.4 Blue violet light
According to a BBC article opticians claim blue violet light can cause serious eye damage
to frequent mobile or tablet user36. The very article generated a lot of discussion on social media
which means people care about the possible dangers of prolonged use of mobile technologies.
Looking at a mobile device screen can cause macular degeneration, insomnia and headache.
There are special applications or screen films for filtering blue light, which reduce screen
brightness and blue light itself to some extent. But simultaneously content can be a bit harder
to read. We presume this might influence reading or interaction with the device. Serious
research study has not yet been carried out to discover its true impact.
5 Discussion of future possible trends
In this section we analyse prior findings and brainstorm possible emerging trends and
scenarios within the field of digital reading.
32 SPRITZ. The Science [online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from: http://www.spritzinc.com/the-science/
33 KEEPITUSABLE. A psychologists thoughts on Spritz and the future of digital reading [online]. [cit. 2014-04-
17]. Available from: http://www.keepitusable.com/blog/?p=1711
34 KEEPITUSABLE. A psychologists thoughts on Spritz and the future of digital reading [online]. [cit. 2014-04-
17]. Available from: http://www.keepitusable.com/blog/?p=1711
35 GOOGLE PLAY. A Faster Reader [online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basetis.blinkingread.blinkingread
36 BBC. Smartphone overuse may 'damage' eyes, say opticians [online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/26780069
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
8
5.1 General outcomes
Naturally there are differences between various devices which impact the design of
electronic text itself.
Smart watches, glasses, smartphones, tablets or computer monitors were created for
specific purpose of use. Wearables are designed to inform users about currently needed
contextual information in a concentrated form. For instance tablets are mostly used for
reading in the evenings37.
Takeaway message: Every piece of content has to be customised for specific device.
Design of electronic text and text-rich applications also depends on the length and
nature of the text. Reading a long electronic academic paper or a scholarly book compared
to reading a blog post or a Facebook status requires different level of mental effort. When
reading longer serious texts, reader’s tactile experience, we assume, is very important for
modelling and adjusting his mental models.
Takeaway message: Tactile experience can help understanding and comprehension of
longer serious text.
5.2 Emerging trends
We identified following possible trends which have significant potential to be
implemented into digital reading applications. Therefore digital reading experience and
usability might be improved.
Great potential for innovation is in the lack of tactile experience. Users want to know
their position in a text, they want to flip several pages at once and move to a desired part
of the text easily as printed books allow. Nowadays, reading applications incorporate
progress bars, bookmarking and annotation features, which help readers form their mental
models. Despite of these functions, navigating a document can distract user’s attention
from the current section being read. Students of KAIST Institute for IT Convergence
challenged these issues of digital reading in a prototype they developed. So called Smart
eBook Interface uses Apple API for page flipping38. Readers are able to find information in
different parts of the book without leaving the actual page using multi-touch gestures to
flip and hold pages.
Takeaway message: We predict such technology will be implemented into reading
applications such as iBooks or GoodReader.
37 GOV.UK. Desktop, tablet and mobile use by time of day [online]. 2013 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
https://insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk/2013/11/14/desktop-tablet-and-mobile-use-by-time-of-day/
38 KIM, Sangtae. YOUTUBE. [KAIST ITC] Smart E-Book Interface Prototype Demo [online]. 2012 [cit. 2014-10-
17]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVyBwz1-AiE
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
9
Fig. 2. Multi-touch interface of Smart eBook prototype39.
We think graphic user interface of Flipboard or Zite is a suitable form for pleasant
consumption of digital content such as blogs, news and Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn streams.
Similar content blocks, or cards if you will, as Flipboard implemented within its application
are used by Facebook (See Fig. 3). Facebook also introduced a new Facebook mobile
application called Paper (See Fig. 3), which focuses more on the reading experience and
content curation. Undoubtedly, Facebook got inspired by usability and interaction flow
achieved by Flipboard (See Fig. 3).
Takeaway message: Flipboard-based interface might be used as a reading interface for
blogs and other social media.
Fig. 3. Left: Facebook stream with external links; Center: Flipboard; Right: Facebook paper40.
Wearables such as Google glass or various smart watches are on the rise. We predict more
technology similar to Spritz is going to be implemented, but on a more sophisticated level. As
we have mentioned above, users have difficulties controlling the flow of a text stream. They
39 KIM, Sangtae. YOUTUBE. [KAIST ITC] Smart E-Book Interface Prototype Demo [online]. 2012 [cit. 2014-10-
17]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVyBwz1-AiE
40 BELL, Karissa. MASHABLE. Facebook's Paper vs. Flipboard: Comparing Mobile News Apps [online]. 2014
[cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from: http://mashable.com/2014/02/04/facebooks-paper-vs-flipboard
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
10
have to be highly concentrated on the screen not to miss any word. One elegant solution
could be monitoring reader’s eye movement with a device front camera, which would pause
the text stream when she looks away.
With improvements in computer-generated simulation of speech (speech synthesis)
we could assume that reading while using wearables will be transformed to audio stream.
Information would be consumed in combined form of an audio and a text stream (See Fig.
4).
Takeaway message: Reading from wearables will be realized using text flow and speech
synthesis.
Fig. 4. Operation system called Her communicates with Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) using
speech synthesis41.
6 Conclusion
To summarize our findings: there is no innovative breakthrough technology to bring
completely new experience of reading yet. We have discussed couple of interesting trends
and scenarios which might become widespread. There are also few directions where
further research needs to be done. For instance, we actually do not know how digital
reading affects our thinking in the long term. How does reading of short messages,
multitasking or googling influence our ability to think critically and independently?
Related health issues are important to cover in the research as well. These questions should
be addressed in order to bring digital reading closer to the experience we expect from
printed books.
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank my colleague David Šmehlík for his pushy questions which made me think
like a designer. I especially appreciated advice in terms of content and grammar corrections.
41 IMDB. Her [online]. 2013 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
11
References
ACKERMAN, Rakefet a Morris GOLDSMITH. Metacognitive regulation of text learning: On
screen versus on paper. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied [online]. 2011, vol. 17,
issue 1, s. 18-32 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI: 10.1037/a0022086. Available from:
http://doi.apa.org/getdoi.cfm?doi=10.1037/a0022086
BBC. Smartphone overuse may 'damage' eyes, say opticians [online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-
17]. Available from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/26780069
BEAUGRANDE, Robert De. Design Criteria for Process Models of Reading. Reading
Research Quarterly. 1981, vol. 16, issue 2, s. 261-. DOI: 10.2307/747559. Available from:
http://www.jstor.org/stable/747559?origin=crossref
BELL, Karissa. MASHABLE. Facebook's Paper vs. Flipboard: Comparing Mobile News Apps
[online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
http://mashable.com/2014/02/04/facebooks-paper-vs-flipboard
BERNS, Gregory S., Kristina BLAINE, Michael J. PRIETULA a Brandon E. PYE. Short- and
Long-Term Effects of a Novel on Connectivity in the Brain. Brain Connectivity. 2013, roč. 3,
č. 6, s. 590-600.
BROWN, D. Horizon scanning and the business environment — the implications for risk
management. BT Technology Journal. 2007, vol. 25, issue 1, s. 208-214. DOI:
10.1007/s10550-007-0022-8. Available from: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10550-
007-0022-8
CARDEW, Ben. GUARDIAN. Personalised digital magazine app Flipboard aims for 150
million users [online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/media-blog/2014/jan/12/digital-magazine-app-
flipboard
CULL, Barry W. Reading revolutions: Online digital text and implications for reading in
academe. First Monday [online]. 2011-06-06, vol. 16, issue 6, s. - [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI:
10.5210/fm.v16i6.3340. Available from:
http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3340
DILLON, Andrew. Designing usable electronic text. 2nd ed. New York: Taylor, 2003, viii, 214
p.ISBN 04-152-4060-3.
DILLON, ANDREW. Reading from paper versus screens: a critical review of the empirical
literature. Ergonomics [online]. 1992, vol. 35, issue 10, s. 1297-1326 [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI:
10.1080/00140139208967394. Available from:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140139208967394
FLIPBOARD. Flipboard for Educators [online]. 2013 [cit. 2014-10-17]. Available from:
http://inside.flipboard.com/2013/08/29/flipboard-for-educators/
GOOGLE PLAY. A Faster Reader [online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.basetis.blinkingread.blinkingread
GOV.UK. Desktop, tablet and mobile use by time of day [online]. 2013 [cit. 2014-04-17].
Available from: https://insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk/2013/11/14/desktop-tablet-and-mobile-use-
by-time-of-day/
HATT, Frank. The reading process: a framework for analysis and description. Hamden,
Conn.: Linnet Books, 1976, 124 p. ISBN 02-080-1523-X.
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
12
IMDB. Her [online]. 2013 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709
KEEPITUSABLE. A psychologists thoughts on Spritz and the future of digital reading
[online]. [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from: http://www.keepitusable.com/blog/?p=1711
KIM, Sangtae. YOUTUBE. [KAIST ITC] Smart E-Book Interface Prototype Demo [online].
2012 [cit. 2014-10-17]. Available from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVyBwz1-AiE
KRETZSCHMAR, Franziska, Dominique PLEIMLING, Jana HOSEMANN, Stephan FÜSSEL,
Ina BORNKESSEL-SCHLESEWSKY, Matthias SCHLESEWSKY a Thomas BORAUD.
Subjective Impressions Do Not Mirror Online Reading Effort: Concurrent EEG-Eyetracking
Evidence from the Reading of Books and Digital Media. PLoS ONE [online]. 2013-2-6, vol. 8,
issue 2, e56178- [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0056178. Available from:
http://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0056178
LI, Liang-Yi, Gwo-Dong CHEN a Sheng-Jie YANG. Construction of cognitive maps to
improve e-book reading and navigation. Computers & Education [online]. 2013, vol. 60,
issue 1, s. 32-39 [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI: 10.1016/j.compedu.2012.07.010. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0360131512001704
LIU, Ziming. Reading behavior in the digital environment: Changes in reading behavior over
the past ten years. Journal of Documentation [online]. 2005, vol. 61, issue 6, s. 700-712 [cit.
2014-03-17]. DOI: 10.1108/00220410510632040. Available from:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00220410510632040
MANGEN, Anne, Bente R. WALGERMO a Kolbjørn BRØNNICK. Reading linear texts on
paper versus computer screen: Effects on reading comprehension. International Journal of
Educational Research [online]. 2013, vol. 58, s. 61-68 [cit. 2014-03-30]. DOI:
10.1016/j.ijer.2012.12.002. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0883035512001127
MANGEN, Anne, Bente R. WALGERMO a Kolbjørn BRØNNICK. Reading linear texts on
paper versus computer screen: Effects on reading comprehension. International Journal of
Educational Research [online]. 2013, vol. 58, s. 61-68 [cit. 2014-03-30]. DOI:
10.1016/j.ijer.2012.12.002. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0883035512001127
MAYES, Daniel K, Valerie K SIMS a Jefferson M KOONCE. Comprehension and workload
differences for VDT and paper-based reading. International Journal of Industrial
Ergonomics [online]. 2001, vol. 28, issue 6, s. 367-378 [cit. 2014-10-17]. DOI:
10.1016/S0169-8141(01)00043-9. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0169814101000439
MCCLELLAND, James L. a David E. RUMELHART. An interactive activation model of
context effects in letter perception: I. An account of basic findings. Psychological Review.
1981, vol. 88, issue 5, s. 375-407. DOI: 10.1037/0033-295X.88.5.375. Available from:
http://content.apa.org/journals/rev/88/5/375
NOYES, Jan M. a Kate J. GARLAND. Computer- vs. paper-based tasks: Are they equivalent?.
Ergonomics [online]. 2008, vol. 51, issue 9, s. 1352-1375 [cit. 2014-04-03]. DOI:
10.1080/00140130802170387. Available from:
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140130802170387
PAYNE, Stephen J. a William R. READER. Constructing structure maps of multiple on-line
texts. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies [online]. 2006, vol. 64, issue 5, s.
461-474 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhcs.2005.09.003. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S1071581905001722
Tomáš Bouda Future of digital reading
13
RADER, Emilee a Paul ROSE. BITLAB. Effects of automated information selection and
presentation in online information systems [online]. [cit. 2014-04-13]. Available from:
http://bitlab.cas.msu.edu/curation/
SPRITZ. Spritz [online]. [cit. 2014-04-18]. Available from: http://www.spritzinc.com/
SPRITZ. The Science [online]. 2014 [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
http://www.spritzinc.com/the-science/
TWITTER. Saving searches [online]. [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
https://support.twitter.com/articles/96646-how-to-save-searches
TWITTER. Using hashtags on Twitter [online]. [cit. 2014-04-17]. Available from:
http://support.twitter.com/groups/53-discover/topics/216-trends/articles/49309-using-
hashtags-on-twitter
UNDERWOOD, Geoffrey a Vivienne BATT. Reading and understanding: an introduction to
the psychology of reading. Cambridge, Mass., USA: Blackwell Publishers, 1996, xii, 244 p.
ISBN 06-311-7949-6.
WÄSTLUND, Erik, Henrik REINIKKA, Torsten NORLANDER a Trevor ARCHER. Effects of
VDT and paper presentation on consumption and production of information: Psychological
and physiological factors. Computers in Human Behavior [online]. 2005, vol. 21, issue 2, s.
377-394 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2004.02.007. Available from:
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0747563204000202
WU, Ming-der a Shih-chuan CHEN. Graduate students' usage of and attitudes towards ebooks:
experiences from Taiwan. Program: electronic library and information systems
[online]. 2011, vol. 45, issue 3, s. 294-307 [cit. 2014-03-17]. DOI:
10.1108/00330331111151601. Available from:
http://www.emeraldinsight.com/10.1108/00330331111151601