Reading is such an important part of life, from a very young age, books are used to teach people life lessons. Growing older, reading can become more of a hobby than a chore. Some people like to collect books and like the feel of a paper book in their hands. On the other hand, there is a technology that allows people to read by using a device. For example, a mobile app or a device like the Amazon Kindle. These technologies have many advantages and here are just a few of them.
1.Deforestation – By using an electronic device to read, you will be saving so many trees from being cut down. Yes, that does mean that you will not be able to experience the feel of the paper or hardback in your hands. It also means that you won’t be able to smell that new book smell anymore. However, deforestation is one of the many reasons why animals or becoming endangered and some extinct. The world’s rainforests only cover 6% of our planet, how many endangered species live in those forests?
2.Saving money – There are many ways that an app or reading device can save you money. One of them is that the books on the device’s or app’s store may not cost as much as a real book. This is because you are not paying for the paper, cover or hardback. For example, the Amazon store on a Kindle has ‘Kindle Prices’ where the books are cheaper and some gradually go down in price over time. This means that any books on your module reading list can be bought for a cheaper price. Additionally, you do not have to spend the whole day in the library searching for books and faffing with references as you have everything on the device.
Also, when you buy loads of books, you need to make a lot of space to accommodate those. This means buying shelves, storage boxes or units. As a student, you want to be saving money for more important things like loans and food, not shelving units.
3.Storage – On the topic of shelves and boxes, a lot of books means the need for a lot of storage. Along with buying university books, student guides and books you enjoy reading, they can take up a lot of space which can be a nuisance if you live in student halls. Shelves can soon become dangerously bendy and corners can be drowned by towering piles of novels. With a device, you can choose how much storage you would like. Also, when you have finished a book and you know that you will never read it again, you can simply delete it to make room for another one.
4.Can easily be cleaned – Cleaning a phone, iPad or reading device is a must in any situation, even more so with a global pandemic happening. When taking a book on the train, in a taxi or on the bus, it is very difficult to clean the germs that contaminate it. Bacteria or viruses can live on surfaces for a while and if you are taking the book with you every time you travel, you are constantly touching those germs. Whereas with a mobile, iPad or reading device, it is easy to use cleaning spray or an antibacterial wipe to clean the screen.
5.Privacy – Everyone has that guilty pleasure book that you have or wish you could buy but do not want to be seen in public reading it. There is nothing more embarrassing than someone noticing the cover of the book or having the person sitting next to you on the train peak over your shoulder. With an app or device, there is no cover so no awkwardly holding the book to hide the cover. Also, most electronic devices have the ability to turn the screen brightness down. This means that with a darker screen, it is less likely to catch someone’s eye and make it harder for them to peak over your shoulder.
To finish, these are just some of the reasons why you should give a reading device or app a thought. There are many more reasons, so if you have one that I have not written then get in touch via our Instagram.