Comments on: Tablets and E-Readers: The missing control

By: Kenneth Michaels

Kenneth Michaels — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:27:49 +0000

The big secret is that the later Kindles removed the automatic page turn feature to help thwart PIRACY. The Nook does not have this feature for the same reason. It is too easy to have a phone app (or a web cam app, scanner, photocopier, etc.) automatically take a picture of the Kindle every X seconds as the page turns every X seconds. Also easy to generate a PDF automatically (or any other format) from the photographs. (A quick and easy Andriod app could do this, actually.)

On the other hand, if you remove the automatic feature, it increases the cost of pirating a book – someone has to manually turn the pages as the camera snaps photos. (Although people manage to do it anyway; not too costly.)

Unfortunately, people who are disabled are complaining about the loss of this feature the most. But, hey, the US opposes any new laws or international treaties giving disabled persons any fair-use rights to begin with. Guess people don’t care.

By: Mark Forrest

Mark Forrest — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:05:59 +0000

My tablet works as a USB host and allows keyboards, mice etc to be plugged in. I already had a USB wireless presentation remote which has basic movement and left and right click functions and works well as a remote page turner. A mini USB wired mouse works as well.
I used to have a credit card sized bluetooth keyboard which worked with my old phone, wish I hadn’t sold it now.

By: Robin

Robin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:44:10 +0000

https://leapmotion.com/

Perhaps you need the Leap controller (when it comes out).

Or just put your cup down?

By: Jon Jermey

Jon Jermey — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 06:13:58 +0000

Some interesting suggestions here, but I’ve found in the past that a timed automatic page turn simply doesn’t work. Pour yourself an orange juice, or respond to a question from your spouse, and suddenly you’re two pages ahead and don’t know what’s going on.

And books are not homogenous; some passages have to be read carefully and thought about, while others can be skipped over rapidly.

By: David Lomax

David Lomax — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:58:34 +0000

Guys, it’s gesture control that’s missing. Think X-Box Kinect, but smaller, tighter-focused and way, way more intelligent. My prediction: in six years, our computers and TVs will be watching our gestures so that our fingers don’t have to touch either screens or remotes. Eight years, our tablets will do the same thing. Imagine pinching to zoom without touching.

And, naturally, Apple will have applied for patents on all this. They will own waving and pointing.

By: Xendula

Xendula — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:32:47 +0000

FSkornia, my kindles (Basic and Paperwhite) do not have automatic page turn functionality.

By: Xendula

Xendula — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:30:35 +0000

I love Bob W’s ring idea and was thinking of something similar last night while reading in bed. Some remote control that would allow me to use my kindle hands-free but without making any noise.

By: John

John — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 13:18:36 +0000

I always use the “English” method, and always keep one pinkie up in the air while I’m eating. I use that digit to tap the screen or swipe.

By: FSkornia

FSkornia — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 05:38:43 +0000

Kindles have an automatic page turning function that you can adjust to your reading speed. Get it set, pick up your toast and tea, and you’ll be set. The scenario described is also a goo argument for physical page turn buttons, instead of touch screens, since then you’re not swiping or touching your screen.

By: fleegle

fleegle — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:26:59 +0000

You can use your nose. At least that works on my iPad.

By: Bob W

Bob W — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 18:10:45 +0000

I’d rather just have a small remote button on a ring that I could tap to change the page. Something waterproof for when I’m washing dishes too.

By: Gary

Gary — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:50:25 +0000

I have years of experience reading and eating at the same time. Your mistake is to use one hand for the toast and the other for the tea.

What you have to do is to hold the book (or ebook) in your off hand, and alternate between the tea and the toast with your dominant hand.

With some practice, you can hold the reader with the four fingers of your off hand, and push the page turn button with the thumb of your off hand. Swiping would be much more difficult. This is one of the reasons I bought a Sony ebook. It has page turn buttons.

Since your off hand never touches the food, it doesn’t get greasy, and the greasy fingers of your dominant hand never touch the book.

If you are eating something that has to be cut up, such as a steak, cut it into bite sized pieces first, before you start eating and reading. Then you hold the book in your off hand, and operate the fork / pick up the wine glass with your dominant hand.

I can’t imagine chirping at my ebook reader or tablet in a restaurant. The manager would call for the men in white coats to come and take me away.

By: Michael W. Perry

Michael W. Perry — Sat, 08 Dec 2012 17:45:24 +0000

Great suggestion! I’d suggest a tongue-click as that sound. It’s clear, unambiguous, and not used for any other purpose. Of course, it’s likely to get you some odd looks in a coffee shop.

You’re 100% right about screen smears. One big downside to Microsoft’s latest Windows is that it assumes office users won’t mind cleaning those smears off their screens daily. I doubt that’s true.

There is a work around, at least for a read-aloud enabled book or document. Have it read to you at your normal reading speed but turn down the volume. Of course, if you’re going to that trouble, you might as well let it read aloud.