With more and more screens and devices to read on, Technology is changing how we engage with reading…
- The growth of mobile devices has led to reading being increasingly limited to electronic devices.
- Young people are the ones who use these devices to a greater extent, both to study and to find out about what is happening in the world.
- The book in paper format has gone into the background or third place when looking for sources of information and reading content.
Reading is one of those lifelong activities. To study a career, train in a certain area, acquire a new skill, read traffic signs, find out about what is happening in the world, or take advantage of a moment of entertainment: we read practically throughout the day.
However, the advancement of Technology has gradually begun to change the way we read and how we carry out this activity. Its presence in practically all areas of daily life has brought reading closer and closer to screens and away from paper. Still, at the same time, it has facilitated the possibility of reading throughout the day.
Differences between paper and screen
A study by the Norwegian scientist Anne Mangen, published in the International Journal of Educational Research ScienceDirect, reveals how understanding a story is different when it is on paper than when it is read on a screen.
The study ” Reading linear texts on paper versus computer screen: effects on reading comprehension “aims to determine how the passage from one material to another can change the way we read.
Although this focuses on the impacts on reading comprehension for students in schools in Norway, it allows us to understand the changes that Technology creates in all types of readers.
This researcher’s findings prove that, after reading printed texts, students obtain better scores on their reading comprehension tests than those who read digital texts.
In addition, this researcher suggests that some aspects of how digital texts are structured may be the major causes of these differences.
The concentration problem
One of the most obvious changes in reading habits with Technology is that it is increasingly difficult to concentrate on certain devices.
With the paper book, you can always mute other devices and focus on the page before you. However, it is increasingly difficult to avoid distractions when reading on cell phones.
The constant notifications that arrive, the change in screen lighting, and the simple temptation to access one of the many available applications can cause the focus of attention to change and, therefore, concentration problems.
What is better? What should be chosen? It will depend on the needs of each individual, but the truth is that Technology is changing how we read.
