Screen readers 'less literate'

[Jazzy]

Children prefer to read on screens rather than from books, but those who use the new technology have weaker literacy skills, research suggests.

The survey, conducted by The National Literacy Trust, found 52% of children preferred to read on an electronic device - including e-readers, computers and smartphones - while only 32% said they would rather read a physical book.

However, the poll of 34,910 young people aged between eight and 16 across the UK found that those who read printed texts were almost twice as likely to have above-average reading skills as those who read on screens every day.

Only 12% of those who read using new technology said they really enjoyed reading, compared with 51% of those who favoured books.

Jonathan Douglas, the director of the National Literacy Trust, said: "While we welcome the positive impact which technology has on bringing further reading opportunities to young people, it's crucial that reading in print is not cast aside.

"We are concerned by our finding that children who only read on-screen are significantly less likely to enjoy reading and less likely to be strong readers.

Source

I know you're not a child but I'm curious. Do you prefer screen readers over a physical book?

 

[Evil Eye]

That really depends on the dimensions of the book... and the reader, I suppose.
I don't mind reading off a screen and it's somewhat practical to be able to read in the dark without a light, but on the other hand, those things need power...
Anyway, some books are simply too big to hold comfortably while reading.

That article's title is kinda giving off the wrong impression, don't you think?

 

[Crusader]

Not a fan of reading too much on screens. Not sure why.

 

[Andrew Darmac]

I prefer books.

Because I'm holding something real in my hands and not just looking at some monitor screen again, like I do for the internet.

 

[Nikki]

I prefer books.

Because I'm holding something real in my hands and not just looking at some monitor screen again, like I do for the internet.

I agree with you and for the same reasons.

 

[Nebulous]

I suppose I'd rather read a book than an e-reader. I suppose those kids who prefer to read electronically have weaker skills because they skip over to the games instead of reading?

 

[DrLeftover]

While I might be considered a "power user" of the net, if not an "expert", and I have a list of bookmarks for references on almost every subject you can name and can find almost anything in a matter of minutes, I still prefer to have access to an assortment of printed books for reference when, for some reason, I don't have Web access.

And they still come in handy, for instance, in my RV I have a copy of the "New York Public Library Desk Reference", and an outdated one volume encyclopedia (another proverbial 'big thick book that knows everything'), as well as a couple of other books of interest.

Now, as for 'reading for pleasure': I prefer a book book, paper in hand, complete with coffee stain and bent corners, using an old business card from the chiropractor as a bookmark. Yeah.


The NYPL book if you are interested:
http://www.nypl.org/node/62003

 

[Raven]

I HATE reading off screens. Too much time looking at a screen gives me a crackin headache. I also find it much harder to understand words and actually read words on a screen - no idea why that is.

Can't beat holding a book and turning the pages too.

 

[Evil Eye]

I suppose those kids who prefer to read electronically have weaker skills because they skip over to the games instead of reading?

Maybe, but I suspect what they're highlighting here is a correlation rather than a causal relationship. Kids who are poor readers can't be bothered to get the actual book, so they read it off a screen. * So then kids who read off screens are poor readers, not because they're reading off screens, but because they weren't interested in the first place.
I could be wrong... but it seems likely (to me ).

* I've actually done that myself for some required reading.

 

[Amiga]

The buks I rd r on ipad.

i lyk dem.






Seriously, I only ever read books on my iPad lately. Less hassle with page turning (lol) and I can read it in bed without having to then get up and walk across the room to turn the light off when I'm finished.

 

[Evil Eye]

The buks I rd r on ipad.

i lyk dem.

 

[Raven]

Seriously? How is it hassle to turn a page?!