Why Reading is Easier on Paper
Oh Eye See
Ink and Paper The ink and paper of a book reflect ambient light in the environment but produce no light of their own. Light on a computer screen, on the other hand, produces its own light, which over time makes the eye tired and strained, making reading more difficult. Thickness In a book, the reader can both see and feel the thickness of the number of pages he or she has read and the number of pages left to reader. This helps the brain create a map of where it is in the text, which forms a solid structural basis that helps it place information based on where it is physically located. Progress bars on a screen do not have the same effect. Location of Text If you have a favorite passage from a book, you probably remember not only what page it’s on, but where it is on the page. This is no accident. Your brain uses the location of the text as an anchor which helps tie down the information you want to retain. Scanning It’s easy to hold your place with a finger and flip ahead or behind a few pages to reread a section you want to go over without losing your place. On a screen, however, it’s easy to get lost and lose that anchor your brain needs, especially in long texts.