I think you mean a front-lit screen, not a back-lit one. LCD screens are back-lit (from behind), so that the light shines directly into your eyes. Front-lit scr

I think you mean a front-lit screen, not a back-lit one. LCD screens are back-lit (from behind), so that the light shines directly into your eyes. Front-lit screens like on the Kindle or Kobo are lit from the sides/top/bottom, so that the light reflects off the e-ink surface and into your eyes, just like paper. On my Kobo, I can just make out the individual front light LEDs on the bottom of the screen if I tilt it up.