An often overlooked feature of most e-book displays is the ability to change the size of the font. Especially in recent years, I have noticed that the average font-size in p-books has been getting smaller and line-spacing has decreased, making the text harder to read for anyone without good eyesight.
Years ago, I remember searching the Large Print section of our local library, trying to find intelligent reading-matter for an elderly relative who, although suffering from failing vision, had nothing whatever wrong with her mind. It was not easy.
And of course, if even an ebook-display does not permit sufficient enlargement, there is no reason why electronic text should not be magnified as much as required on a high-contrast computer screen.
This is an important something to be added to the P-versus-E debate. P-books don’t need recharging, are easy to flip through, they smell nice, “do furnish a room”, and all that; but do they take up zero space, never need dusting, never fox, and never disintegrate because the publisher has skimped on the binding? And do they allow you, if afflicted with failing sight, to minimize your isolation and go on accessing the pleasure and companionship to be found in reading?
I showed my Kindle to someone who could read only large print books and she immediately wanted one. Large print books are not in great supply, are expensive and are difficult for elderly people to hold. She bought one even though she didn’t have a computer and even at the then $400 price, it will pay for itself, $25 at a time.
most of that is only true when the ebook isn’t an ebook but a computer file, because i can gurantee that your kindle wont outlast your paperback unless your purpusely destroy the paperbacks.
Font size is an issue but remember that one of the reasons for Locked formats is artistic control over the output and if someone decides form is impotent the ebook once again wont be able to scale up unless it falls back to a plain computer file.
I would also suggest people with vision difficulties or failing eyesight check into the free talking books program offered through the Library of Congress/NLS BPH. This program offers free talking books (now includes digital books as well), and is a life changing program for many who use it.
I want to buy an ebook reader but am having difficulty fiding one which will alow me to change the size of the text, I want to be able to read without my (ordinary reading) specs. Has anybody found such a reader?
@Louie: Most of the most popular ebook readers will allow you to change the size of the font, provided the file is not actively preventing it… which can happen if the reader is reading a file it is not optimized for. Which readers have you looked at which didn’t allow you to change font sizes?
You might want to check out the wiki on MobileRead.com… that might help you find what you’re looking for.
the only time I can think of where you can’t change the font size on any of the major readers (Kindle, Nook, Sony, Kobo) is if you’re looking at a pdf file.
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An often overlooked feature of most e-book displays is the ability to change the size of the font. Especially in recent years, I have noticed that the average font-size in p-books has been getting smaller and line-spacing has decreased, making the text harder to read for anyone without good eyesight.
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I showed my Kindle to someone who could read only large print books and she immediately wanted one. Large print books are not in great supply, are expensive and are difficult for elderly people to hold. She bought one even though she didn’t have a computer and even at the then $400 price, it will pay for itself, $25 at a time.
most of that is only true when the ebook isn’t an ebook but a computer file, because i can gurantee that your kindle wont outlast your paperback unless your purpusely destroy the paperbacks.
Font size is an issue but remember that one of the reasons for Locked formats is artistic control over the output and if someone decides form is impotent the ebook once again wont be able to scale up unless it falls back to a plain computer file.
I would also suggest people with vision difficulties or failing eyesight check into the free talking books program offered through the Library of Congress/NLS BPH. This program offers free talking books (now includes digital books as well), and is a life changing program for many who use it.
Jaime/Talking Books Librarian at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/
I want to buy an ebook reader but am having difficulty fiding one which will alow me to change the size of the text, I want to be able to read without my (ordinary reading) specs. Has anybody found such a reader?
@Louie: Most of the most popular ebook readers will allow you to change the size of the font, provided the file is not actively preventing it… which can happen if the reader is reading a file it is not optimized for. Which readers have you looked at which didn’t allow you to change font sizes?
You might want to check out the wiki on MobileRead.com… that might help you find what you’re looking for.
the only time I can think of where you can’t change the font size on any of the major readers (Kindle, Nook, Sony, Kobo) is if you’re looking at a pdf file.