The holiday season is known for bringing out many new creative gift ideas. This season, Amazon.com is giving customers an innovative way to read by introducing an electronic device that is set up similarly to a book, called Kindle.
Devon Corvasce, an Amazon.com spokesperson, stated in an e-mail message that Kindle, which was the subject of Newsweek's Nov. 26 cover story, has many benefits for readers which print versions do not have.
It has a wireless connection that allows readers to connect to Amazon.com at any time and in any place and it also has an 11 hour battery life, she said. It can be used anywhere a cell phone can be used. Kindle has more than 900,000 titles including books, newspapers and magazines that can be accessed, making it convenient - specifically for travelers who do not have to carry those items.
Corvasce said Kindle was not released for the holiday season. Rather, it was announced now because Amazon.com felt it was the best time for customers to experience the product's advantages.
William Kist, associate professor of English education at Kent State University and member of the National Council of Teachers of English, said Kindle will be a benefit to readers.
"Obviously, the advantage is convenience," Kist said. "It's apparent people want the convenience of being able to download e-books. I see that as a benefit. How can this be seen as a negative?"
He said he has seen people have negative reactions to a change in media before. This is not the first time people have worried that a new invention may change the amount of books being read.
"When you look at a lot of new media, such as the Internet and text messaging, many words of print are embedded in all of those," Kist said. "Just as the invention of television and comic books, there have always been these alarmist cries that new media is going to be the death of reading."
Kist, who recently wrote a book titled "New Literacies in Action," said that despite new studies that say reading has decreased, young people may be reading more than ever because of different medias available to them. Students are often reading electronically, so they might respond more positively to Kindle.
"Maybe they're not reading print on a page as much but they're reading online more than ever before," he said. "They're totally immersed in print, depending on how active they are on Facebook, MySpace and text messaging. There's print embedded in that media."
English professor Deborah Andrews said Kindle will be a success if consumers prefer to read books on a screen in comparison to print books. This may not be an appeal to most people because of the comfort of reading a book presents.
"I'm not super comfortable with reading a novel on screen," Andrews said. "People want something to curl up with. But it's an interesting concept."
She said she has seen Kindle in the business pages of newspapers. Predictions say companies such as Apple will try to invent similar products to surpass Kindle in the near future.
Kindle has many positive aspects including the wireless use and rapid download time from any place, Andrews said. She said she understands why Amazon.com would market this item towards frequent travelers.
"It takes seconds to connect to Amazon.com," she said. "Sitting in an airport with a Kindle in your pocket is really something good. The everywhere-ness is good."
Andrews said she would probably not buy a Kindle for herself because it does not present the same appeal as a print book.
"I don't take my computer," she said. "I take my book. That wouldn't be for me. I have a hankering for print."
Molly Wilwol, textbook manager at Delaware Book Exchange, said it is nice for readers to be able to buy their books elsewhere.
"I think it's nice to have the extra options," Wilwol said. "You can have a hard copy, or if you prefer to read it online, it's great idea to have the extra option."
She said she does worry about having competition against a traditional bookstore because of new inventions like Kindle. However, Kindle does not currently offer textbooks to be downloaded.
Kist said it does not matter how young readers are, as long as they do read. The decrease of leisure reading has such a negative impact on young people that any type of material that allows them to read easier is a step in the right direction.
"I really believe if some kid wants to use this device, who cares if it's on a screen or on a page," he said. "It's not like printed books are flying off the shelves now."
Despite not wanting to purchase a Kindle for herself, Andrews said she would consider buying one for someone else.
"I think the question is, 'Would I get it for my grandson?' " she said.
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