A new study completed by Jacob Nielsen from Nielsen Norman Group reveals it takes longer to read an e-book than a paperback. The study may seem irrelevant, but it could interfere with e-book adoption by students and educational administrators.
During testing, Nielsen analyzed reading times of e-books read on a PC, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPad, and a traditional printed book. Twenty-four test subjects read a sample story from Ernest Hemingway, with published works from Hemingway chosen because they are easier and "pleasant" to read. The group likes "reading and frequently read books," but other specifics related to the 24 participants are unknown.
The 24 participants had an average of 17 minutes, 20 seconds to read the story, with a follow-up comprehension questionnaire filled out after completion. The elapsed time, according to Nielsen, is enough for readers to become "immersed" in the story.
On a scale of 7, the iPad, Kindle and printed book had the following average scores: 5.8, 5.7 and 5.6. The PC had a disappointing 3.6 score -- participants said reading text on a screen reminded them too much of working. The Kindle's lackluster contrast and the iPad's weight were also common complaints from the study, Nielsen reports.
But even with slower reading times, it seems like e-readers and e-books will only continue to grow more popular. Amazon and Sony have slashed prices on their e-readers, with rival products expected to launch with lower price tags. A larger number of manufacturers will become involved in the e-reader market, with Plastic Logic, Acer, and others currently in the mix.
I’m curious to see if school districts and universities will try to integrate e-readers, even though they might cause slower reading times. Will students choose e-books on e-readers or tablets instead of printed text books and reading materials?
If anything, I'd like to see Nielsen expand on the study a bit more -- including a larger random sample, and hopefully a larger group of “casual” readers as well.
