Reading Task Investigation of the Kindle app in Three Mediums

Sheen, KA ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6326-3241, Luximon, Y and Zhang, J (2017) Reading Task Investigation of the Kindle app in Three Mediums. In: Advances in Physical Ergonomics and Human Factors. AHFE 2017. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 602, 17 July 2017 - 21 July 2017, Los Angeles, USA.

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Abstract

E-textbooks are often considered the future of textbooks but the current capabilities and implications of app-based textbooks and their corresponding technology are not well outlined. The goal in this study was to understand the effects of the change in medium on the academic reading task, student perception of the devices and components, and identify issues surrounding two in-app components. Students completed four reading tasks in three different size mobile devices and a paper control. The experiment also consisted of a between-subject study where students were asked to use the highlighting or annotation component while reading. Results showed that the devices and components actually changed the way the students interact with their reading. Also, students were generally unhappy with the in-app components and smallest sized device. This information is useful to identify the effects of e-textbook apps on reading behavior, which can be applied to improve the design of future e-textbooks.