More and more people are reading e-books of their favorite stories and classics using their mobile phones. While tablets like Kindle and iPad are still the best route for reading digital books, people are also choosing to sync their copies onto their mobile phones, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
In a survey conducted by Neilsen in 2014, e-book readers using their smartphones has jumped to 54 percent. The number was only around 24 percent two years before that, the news outlet reported.
People are using their smartphones to read books because it is convenient. "When you're on the subway or lying in bed, what we want to do is make reaching for books as easy as possible," said Willem Van Lancker, the founder of Oyster, an online digital library, according to The Verge.
"My bookshelf at home isn't any good to me when I'm at the park," Van Lancker also told WSJ.
Indeed, avid readers can catch up on their books even while on a long commute in the subway. They sync whatever they have read from their tablets and just pick up where they left off. It also helps that many smartphones are fitted with wider screen sizes so that reading doesn't strain the eyes.
But of course, there are criticisms to this habit in terms of honing attention span and curbing distractions. However, some people have managed to read classics like Moby Dick solely on their phones. "People should stop worrying about how other people are reading, and be glad that they are," said Anna Todd, a writer, via WSJ.
"As phablets become more widespread and platforms develop the mobile reading experience, we can expect mobile phone book reading to continue to grow rapidly in the years to come," said Michael Cairns of Publishing Technology via Telegraph.
While e-books are prevailing, it's actually not hurting the printed book despite the common notion, according to BBC. In fact, technology has pushed authors, publishers and retailers to tap a new audience.
"Digital technology and the rise in the digital reading culture has allowed authors and publishers many more new creative opportunities to develop 'the book' further and delight readers," said Anna Rafferty, the head of Penguin Books Digital via BBC. "It also allows authors to publish directly, to connect intimately with their readers and, crucially, to create new ways of telling their stories."
