Samenvatting

The authors compared three methods of reading and learning by using paper, as well as a variety of interactive study forms. Thier work is part of the large Amsterdam E-Boekenstad (E-Book city) research project (www.e-boekenstad.nl and http://e-boekenstad.wikispaces.com/). They investigate to what extent the materiality of a book determines the usability of the book form. Their tests were conducted in 2010 and 2011. They compared; 1.learning from paper, a laptop and an e-ink e-reader 2.paper with reading from web pages 3.paper and material presented into a digital mind map. As it turns out, in a study situation, electronic reading can only beat reading from paper when it offers real added value. For example, by providing a better overview and shorter comprehensive texts, like they did in their second study. The most important conclusion from all tests is that a simple translation from paper format to electronic format is not enough. Publishers should take advantage of the possibilities new techniques offer, and perhaps discard ‘traditional thinking’ in terms of linear essay-type books and paragraphs.