3 ms·

Online v. print reading: which one makes us smarter?

13 points by yagibear 18y ago

jwesley 18y ago
Having received the results of this article, I have ordered a printing of the internet.
iigs 18y ago
The reasons: The process involves so much physical manipulation of the computer that it interferes with our ability to focus on and appreciate what we're reading; online text moves up and down the screen and lacks physical dimension, robbing us of a feeling of completeness; and multimedia features, such as links to videos and animations, leave little room for imagination, limiting our ability to form our own mental pictures to illustrate what we're reading. They acknowledge later in the article that the findings about PC manipulation might be different for people who were raised in a different time, and I definitely agree -- a blank browser tab with focus on the URL bar is about as calming as possible for me. I definitely get annoyed when I'm reading a paper news article and I want to research a reference, doubly so when online at a paper news site when they don't link to things they obviously would if they were true online sources. While I agree that the second half holds merit, I think it's wrong to hang that on the internet itself. I definitely "watch" reddit sometimes, just clicking pics links and skimming programming articles without really soaking anything in. I think that being online doesn't change the need for discretion when choosing your information sources when you're attempting to do more than be passively entertained.
adityakothadiya 18y ago
I would rather read more books online than reading paper ones. Instead of paying $30 for printed book, I'd pay $5 for online book with no ads. Paper books are so one-way communication. Online books are interactive with 2-way communication abilities. Picture is worth of 1000 words. So paper books now add images. Now video is worth of 100,000 words. What's wrong in adding Videos in the book? And most importantly, I cannot search something in paper books. That's the single most reason all paper books should be converted into online books. That advantage surpasses all these negligent disadvantages by huge margin. My $0.02s of course!
bbq 18y ago
For me, it would seem the Internet increases my knowledge while reading a good book puts my mind to work. I guess it depends what you mean by smarter.
paraschopra 18y ago
I always read things which interest me by printing them. With HN there, it becomes hard to read interesting stuff with concentration because you always go back to HN pretty soon

13 points by yagibear 18y ago

Having received the results of this article, I have ordered a printing of the internet.

iigs 18y ago

The reasons: The process involves so much physical manipulation of the computer that it interferes with our ability to focus on and appreciate what we're reading; online text moves up and down the screen and lacks physical dimension, robbing us of a feeling of completeness; and multimedia features, such as links to videos and animations, leave little room for imagination, limiting our ability to form our own mental pictures to illustrate what we're reading. They acknowledge later in the article that the findings about PC manipulation might be different for people who were raised in a different time, and I definitely agree -- a blank browser tab with focus on the URL bar is about as calming as possible for me. I definitely get annoyed when I'm reading a paper news article and I want to research a reference, doubly so when online at a paper news site when they don't link to things they obviously would if they were true online sources. While I agree that the second half holds merit, I think it's wrong to hang that on the internet itself. I definitely "watch" reddit sometimes, just clicking pics links and skimming programming articles without really soaking anything in. I think that being online doesn't change the need for discretion when choosing your information sources when you're attempting to do more than be passively entertained.

adityakothadiya 18y ago

I would rather read more books online than reading paper ones. Instead of paying $30 for printed book, I'd pay $5 for online book with no ads. Paper books are so one-way communication. Online books are interactive with 2-way communication abilities. Picture is worth of 1000 words. So paper books now add images. Now video is worth of 100,000 words. What's wrong in adding Videos in the book? And most importantly, I cannot search something in paper books. That's the single most reason all paper books should be converted into online books. That advantage surpasses all these negligent disadvantages by huge margin. My $0.02s of course!

bbq 18y ago

For me, it would seem the Internet increases my knowledge while reading a good book puts my mind to work. I guess it depends what you mean by smarter.

paraschopra 18y ago

I always read things which interest me by printing them. With HN there, it becomes hard to read interesting stuff with concentration because you always go back to HN pretty soon