I was pondering the question of e-readers and came to a startling conclusion.
I don't think they will make all that impact except for one growing sector - the old. If they can perfect a lightweight reader that is legible to older eyes and allows the font to be increased, then I think this is the market it will work in.
I think for the above market, the e-readers should be leased from libraries, etc.
The reason why I don't think they will take off for future generations (I'm talking of my daughters' - the 12+ group) is that this generation is developing a butterfly mind. They lack the ability to keep their attention focused. And if they are using their i-device to read, they won't be able to help themselves from checking for texts, on facebook, etc.
I think publishers are looking at how people read physical books now and assuming they will do the same on an electronic device. I would say that this group of people is a dwindling market.
That is it for now.
2 comments:
I agree about the young. Our children and their friends don't read seriously the same way we do.
And as an avid reader, I could only see myself as an 'e-reader/consumer' if outside the UK for long periods(Italy, for instance)with no access to our brilliant bookshops and libraries.
My father (87) would not go anywhere near using an e-reader. He is allergic to computers too!
I do not like having reference books on screen - scrolling backwards and forwards is a real pain!
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