E-readers much better: Experts
Although e-reading is often criticised saying that it can harm the eyesight in the long run, ophthalmologists say that the improved new features in most electronic gadgets are much better than paperbacks, which children often read in dim light. E-readers have the option of brightness being adjusted and also a zoom in and zoom out facility which makes reading easy at any time of the day, say ophthalmologists.
Dr A. Deepa Shilpika, an ophthalmologist, says, “Nowadays, the brightness of gadgets can be adjusted which is a definite bonus. The only thing that should be taken care of is the position maintained by students while reading. Lying down with one’s Kindle and not holding it up to your eye level and so on will lead to eye problems just as a book would.”
Doctors also say that e-reading helps children with disabilities. Dr Manoj Sreedhar, another ophthalmologist, says, “There are a lot of interactive stories which seem to sell really well on e-readers. It is easy for students with learning disabilities to follow books. There are also plenty of audio-books available. Many parents tell me that the double spacing feature of words or the different fonts that can be adjusted is a boon for students with learning disabilities as they can read according to their convenience.”
Ms Vandana Rao, a teacher, says, “For students from lower grades, we monitor and supervise the usage of reading gadgets. Although parents prefer students taking back physical books, we have found that students are more interested in reading online and we often discuss this with parents during our meetings with them.”
School authorities say that maintaining digital libraries is comparatively cheaper. It is a recent trend that they have started but the benefits of it seem to outweigh the costs.
“Most schools are still grappling with the thought of having a digital library unlike universities that are fully equipped with journals and books. It will take some time for the schools to match up with the universities. We encourage children to visit libraries in their locality and read a physical book once in a while so that they get the best of both worlds,” says Ms Rao.