E-Readers:
the future of reading or
short-lived gadget?
Roger Mills
June 2010
What is an e-Reader?
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A device to display electronic texts in certain
specific formats
Generally using ‘e-ink’ reflective rather than
transmissive screen technology
May have wireless link to allow download/upload
of texts direct from/to e-book shop
May allow upload of files in pdf, txt or other
formats, including sound and image formats (but
not movies)
May allow web browsing (not in UK yet)
May have touch screen or navigation
keys/keyboard
What formats do e-Readers
support?
The Tower of e-Babel: WikiPedia lists 25
different formats for e-book publishing
 Most readers support only a few
 Most e-books only available in a few
 Different formats support different
features
 EPUB (International Digital Publishing
Forum (IDPF )) may become industry
standard
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So
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Your choice of e-reader determines:
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the range of content available to you
the way that content is displayed
the ways you can interact with that content
(annotations etc)
Alternatives
Smartphones
 Netbooks/laptops
 PC’s
 - if format allows
 And now the iPad – and future tablets
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FAQs
Can
 Can
 Can
 Can
 Can
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I
I
I
I
I
search text?
cut-and-paste?
print?
load pdf’s?
download OU e-books?
FAQs: Can I search text?
Generally possible to search for words or
string
 No complex or Boolean statements
 Can’t search pages saved as images
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FAQs: Can I cut-and-paste?
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Usually possible to save selected text to a
file, transfer file to PC and cut-paste from
there
FAQs: Can I print?
No: e-readers generally can’t connect
direct to printers
 Possible to save marked text, transfer as
text file to PC and print that
 Only one ‘page’ at a time
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FAQs: Can I load pdf’s?
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Yes – but may not be zoomable, so may
not be legible on small screen. Where
zooming available, text does not wrap so
constant panning necessary to read
FAQs: Can I download OU ebooks?
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Generally not possible to download ebooks provided on the web through library
subscriptions, for licensing reasons
Kindle 2
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Formats supported
Kindle (.azw, .azw1)
 PDF (.pdf)
 Text (.txt)
 Unprotected Mobipocket (.mobi,
.prc)
 Audible (.aa, .aax)
 MP3 (.mp3)
Convertible via Amazon:
 Microsoft Word (.doc .docx)
 RTF (.rtf)
 Structured HTML (.html, .htm)
 JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg)
 GIF (.gif)
 PNG (.png)
 BMP (.bmp)
 Compressed ZIP (.zip)
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Sony Touch
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Formats supported
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BBeB (.lrf, .lrx)
PDF (.pdf)
EPUB (.epub)
Text (.txt)
RTF file (.rtf)
Word file (.doc, .docx*) –
auto converted by e-Book
Library to RTF when
transferred to Reader
MP3 file (.mp3)
AAC file (.mp4, .m4a,
.mov, or .qt) (not movies)
Bitmap file (.bmp)
JPEG (.jpeg, .jpg)
GIF (.gif) (not animated)
PNG (.png)
Kindle 2
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Text loading
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Keys
Joystick
Keyboard
Text locations, no page nos.
Portrait or landscape (latest
software), not auto
Zoom
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16 shades grey
No backlight
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Speed variable, male-female
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Portrait or landscape, not auto
Zoom
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Text-to-speech
Keys
Touch screen
Virtual keyboard
‘Real’ page nos.
Orientation
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6 sizes (not pdf’s), no continuous
zoom
8 shades grey
No backlight
Navigation:
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Usb only (Windows/Mac) : e-Book
Library content management
software installed automatically;
uses Adobe Digital Editions
Screen
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Orientation
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Text loading
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Navigation:
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Screen:
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Wireless (Amazon only), usb
(Windows/Mac)
Sony Touch
5 sizes + continuous (inc. pdf’s –
but layout may change)
No text-to-speech
Kindle 2
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Annotation
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7 days (current models)
Charge via mains or usb
1.4GB, no memory card slot
Periodicals
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Stereo speakers, headphones
Audiobooks, mp3
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Auto delete after 7 issues
No pictures in UK
Search
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380MB, SD card, Memory Stick
Duo
Periodicals
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Metadata, text, annotations
(pdf’s: metadata only)
7,500 page turns
Charge via mains or usb
Memory
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Headphones only
Mp3, aac
Battery
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On local pc
Sound
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Via virtual keyboard or
handwritten with stylus
Any document
Backup
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Memory
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On Amazon servers
Annotation
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Battery
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Via keyboard, not pdf’s
Sound
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Backup
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Sony Touch
Not supported (will be on ‘Daily
Edition’ reader, not yet available in
UK
Search
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Metadata, text, annotations, some
pdf’s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
List_of_e-book_readers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats
To lend or not to lend?
No definitive legal approval from Amazon
 Some US libraries started lenidng but
stopped – others continue
 Some libraries lend within library only
 Download to own devices most likely
future pattern
 Meanwhile – borrow an e-reader from
RSL!
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ROAD TEST AN E-READER!
Amazon Kindle 2
Sony Reader Touch
[PRS-600]
Now lending e-readers at RSL
Ask at Enquiries
 Details:
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www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/science/services/ereaders
Loan period 1 week
 May be a waiting list!
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E-Reader survey
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http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z55LBVN
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Remains open
Further reading
The Horizon Report 2010 ed
http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2010-HorizonReport.pdf
Good set of links to experiences in American
universities
 Wikipedia has useful comparisons and
explanations of formats:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of
_e-book_formats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_Kindle
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