Dedicated E-reading Devices: the State of the Art and the Challenges

Abstract

Dedicated electronic text reading (e-reading) devices hold the potential to drastically improve e-reading experiences. Nevertheless, up to now they remain in a niche market. This paper surveys existing dedicated e-reading devices and related research to examine the state of the art and the challenges. Firstly, it briefly recounts the evolution of e-reading devices; secondly, it examines the development and issues regarding several critical aspects of this type of device, including form factor, display, interaction methods, connectivity, and e-text distribution methods; finally, it analyzes the reasons why these devices have not become mainstream, and speculates on their future.