kindle


 * Kindle2**

The Kindle2 is a portable e-reader that allows users to download, store and access a wide variety of digital materials from the Amazon collection. The features of this e-reader have been widely reported to be “ground-breaking” – especially given the efficiency of ready access to the Amazon library.
 * Description**

The Kindle2 is about the size of a typical paperback novel. It is a third of an inch wide; weighs 10.2 ounces; has 3G wireless Internet access (allowing for convenient downloads usually in less than a minute. The interface may be easier to read than a print book or a computer screen, because of the “glare free” monochromatic screen display. The Kindle2 has a battery life of up to 4 days. It recharges conveniently via a USB wall adapter. The Kindle2 contains 2GB of storage space, allowing for storage of up to 1500 print books (or “countless” articles, blogs or other text-based communications).

The Kindle2 includes several significant access features. It allows for “text-to-speech” (male or female voice; with variable reading speed); and variable font size, including 6 different sizes of print. The Kindle2 is also easy to navigate. For example, books can be searched by key words; chapters can be accessed; magazines and newspapers can be navigated article-by-article and section-by-section. Materials can be “bookmarked” for later review. Annotation and highlight tools are available – as is [|Wikipedia] and an on-line dictionary to facilitate readers’ comprehension and research.


 * History**

The original Kindle (see Figure 1) was released in the U.S. on November 19, 2007. This represented Amazon’s first attempt to make its large library of print material available to the general public in digital form. The intention was to provide a tool that would (a) lighten bookshelves; (b) allow for greater organization of text material; (c) be environmentally friendly by going “paperless”; and (d) to provide easier, faster and more affordable text material for the reading public. The Kindle2 (see Figure 2) was released in February 2009. Its most significant new feature was text-to-speech.




 * Impact on Teaching and Learning**

There is not yet any empirical research that has examined the impact of the Kindle2 on teaching and learning. However, there is growing anecdotal evidence to suggest that the Kindle2 does facilitate reading comprehension among some groups, most significantly because of its text-to-speech feature. This includes persons with reading disabilities and persons acquiring English as a second language. The evidence suggests that reading “fatigue” is significantly lessened when people can read along with a synthetic voice, especially if they are slow readers.

Perhaps the single-most significant drawback for the widespread use of the Kindle2 in schools is its cost. The device costs approximately $350. Additionally, the Kindle2 does not present graphs and tables in very readable formats. The screen is small making it difficult to read tabular information.


 * Practical Applications**

For a college student, a practical application may be to access textbooks and articles on the Kindle2. Many textbooks and journal articles are not available through the Amazon collection. However, textbooks and articles can be scanned to PDF formats and e-mailed to Amazon for “re-formatting” for the Kindle2. For a reasonable price (less than a dollar), these re-formatted materials will be sent via “Whispernet” to the user’s Kindle2.

The Kindle2 allows for headphone use (similar to an iPod), which permits users to read and listen without disturbing others. There is considerable evidence that second language learners and persons with reading disabilities often benefit from reading while listening. Additionally, for many users having the choice to conveniently access Wikipedia and an on-line dictionary can make the difference between using the tools and not.

The Kindle’s portability, its navigation tools, and its easy-to-read screen display may serve to be very motivational to reading (whether it be social or academic). The lightweight, sleek contours of this hand-held device provide comfort for the reader. Because of its portability, the user is free to use the device in many locations, including buses, beach or wherever he or she chooses.

The video below demonstrates the use of the Kindle2. media type="custom" key="4486952"
 * Demonstrations**


 * References**

Higgins, Eleanor: The Compensatory Effectiveness of Optical Character Recognition/Speech Synthesis on Reading Comprehension of Postsecondary Sudents with Learning Disabilities.Pittsburgh, PA : ACLD, c1989


 * External Links**

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