首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
Why E -Readers Are a Worthy Business Investment A Silicon Valley product development consulting firm called the Nielsen Norm
Why E -Readers Are a Worthy Business Investment A Silicon Valley product development consulting firm called the Nielsen Norm
admin
2013-06-02
37
问题
Why E -Readers Are a Worthy Business Investment
A Silicon Valley product development consulting firm called the Nielsen Norman Group published a study last week comparing reading performance with a book to reading with an e-reader. The results—which are suspect because there were only 24 people in the test group—find that users of the Kindle 2 and iPad read 10. 7 percent and 6. 2 percent slower,respectively,than on paper or with books.
There are too many missing factors to take this study seriously. For example, this group was composed of all "enthusiastic" readers,given short stories by Ernest Hemingway to read on four platforms: the Kindle 2,an iPad, a PC monitor,and paper. First,Hemingway is not an easy read,and subject matter is all-important when measuring speed and comprehension. Enthusiastic readers are more likely to read anything faster than average or minimalist readers.
And, there are a number of other factors to consider, such as time of day .environment, the physical condition of participants,and whether reading is for entertainment or business. Sorry, but it will take a lot more than one simplistic study of 24 readers to convince me that such findings are accurate. Even if the study’s findings were spot-on, it’s not just reading speed that counts. E-readers still offer many advantages over paper books, especially for businesses.
I prefer paperback or hardback books for pleasure reading but,, for research, I prefer a device with access to the Internet. And, this is the case with my friends and colleagues, who add up to more than 10 times the number of participants in this study. However,since I work on a computer all the time,I will concede easily that an e-reader is preferable to a computer screen, especially one designed to imitate an actual book.
As a business investment, how will an e-reader such as the Kindle or a tablet such as the iPad benefit your company? There are several varieties of each available on the market. However, the only distinction I want to make is between e-readers and tablets; one was designed specifically for reading books and other printed materials,while the other was designed to function as a tiny computer, which includes e-reading capabilities. Eventually,the two designs will merge into one device,each with its own set of unique features.
Laptops, notebooks, netbooks, and smartphones all provide screens of readable data. Why would your staff need an electronic reader? These are five great reasons.
First,for employees who are required to read and absorb a lot of information, such as scientists, teachers, and medical personnel, laptops, notebooks, and netbooks are too heavy and large, and smart-phones are just too small. The purpose of an e-reader or a tablet is to function as a book; smaller, thinner,lightweight—no bigger than a standard paperback—plus comfortable and easy to read.
Anyone who is forced to read huge amounts of data for the job cannot be weighted down with a bulky machine; nor can they haul around several 800-page books. When I was an assistant professor traveling to teaching locations all over a city, I remember the agony of hauling six to 10 huge books, workbooks,and reference materials in my backpack to class. Add a laptop for presentations,a phone, and a briefcase to that,and I looked like I was waiting for a moving van. I would have eagerly traded it all for one tablet PC or e-reader.
Second,the physical cost of these devices is decreasing,and the purchase price for e-books is,on average Just $ 10 each. Access to the Internet costs more, but compare these fees with just one paper programming manual,engineering reference guide,or college textbook; the cost is absorbed in fewer than four books. The added benefit is with your own company’s industry-specific publications. Scientists , engineers, programmers, and systems analysts are not reading downloaded books for work from Amazon.
These professionals are reading their own company’s technical documents, which can be uploaded to any tablet or e-reader. Remember, not everyone out there has an office or a small bedroom with a simple chair,a nice desk,and a laptop parked in a docking station. That said,be sure to choose a firm, sturdy device that will withstand environmental conditions. Also, notice the device’s screen and how the text displays in sunlight,partial shade,and darkness. For example,an iPad or other tablet may be harder to read in the sun than a tablet such as the Kindle,with its special e-ink.
Third, these devices will change the way companies distribute physical sales and training documents such as books,manuals,and reference materials outside corporate walls. Even at the current prices,the e-readers—not the tablets, yet—are almost cheaper than providing paper literature.
For example, last year, I worked a technical writing contract job. We created and printed—in-house—four training manuals for employees of the company’s clients. The total cost of the paper books—the paper,ink,binders,dividers,and covers,plus staff time to print,assemble,and distribute— was just under $ 300. Amazon’s 6-inch, diagonal Kindle is only $ 189, and these prices are still coming down,not to mention the negotiating power of volume discounts.
Imagine the time, money, and effort saved by pre-loading training materials for your customers to an e-reader. Since they do not work for your company, they can’t otherwise access such information through your intranet. Besides, if they can’t take the manuals and read them on the go, it’s likely they won’t ever read them at all. Offering manuals on a portable device could spare you the support calls and emails to your help desk from customers looking for answers to what’s already in the manuals.
Another benefit and big cost-saving feature is in updates. When it’s time to update those materials, you just upload the new files to your Web site, then send alerts to customers informing them that they can download the new manuals directly to their e-readers and tablets. It’s the ease and convenience of a computer disguised as a book. Because,truthfully,who wants to sit at a computer and read hundreds of pages?
And last, there’s the added benefit of reading for fun, or even research. There are over 620,000 books,plus U. S. and international newspapers,magazines,and blogs available through Amazon; over a million books at Barnes & Noble, plus 20 newspapers and 13 magazines; with more offerings from publishers and retailers coming every day.
The real benefits of e-readers and tablet PCs are cost, convenience, a huge library—including out-of-print books and lots of free public domain books—easy distribution of your company’s data,and the incentive for everyone to read more. I love my e-reader and I would not give it up for any reason; however,I do still have a huge library of printed books that I won’t get rid of either. But, I can’t take them all with me when I travel.
The e-readers and tablets can hold as many books as the memory allows; for example, the 6-inch Kindle with 2GB of memory holds approximately 1,500 books,the 9-inch Kindle DX with 4GB of memory holds 3,500 books,and the iPad,with up to 64GB of memory, can hold about 48,000 books—if you don’t load it down with music and photos. Any of these devices can be worth the investment.
In the meantime, be sure to research specific features for your employees’ needs, such as any monthly fees added for access to the Internet,3G networks,e-mail,attachments,music resources, and so forth. After you factor in those fees, then compare features and device costs before you purchase.
The customers can acquire the new manuals______.
选项
A、by sending e-mails to the company’s help desk
B、through the company’s updates freely
C、with a favorable discount from the company
D、without any contact with the company
答案
B
解析
定位句提及了如何向客户提供new manuals,也即you just upload the new files to your Web site,then send alerts to customers“更新网站信息,然后提醒客户”,由此可推知B)与之相符,故为答案。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/CfB7777K
0
大学英语六级
相关试题推荐
Muchtimeandefforthasbeendedicatedtoresearchingthementalhealthbenefitsofflexibleworkenvironments.Butcantheabi
ReturningtoScienceTeresaGarrettwasworkingpart-timeasabiochemistrypostdoc(博士后).Shehadaninfantathome,andsh
TheOnlyChild;RevealingtheMythsAccordingtotheGuttmacherInstitute,aleadingreproductive-healthresearchorganizati
Livingstandardshavesoaredduringthe21stcentury,andeconomistsexpectthemtocontinuerisinginthedecadesahead.Doest
A、Thenewmuseum.B、Thenewposter.C、Thehistorydepartment.D、ThespecialtourtoNewYork.B语义理解题。女士很喜欢男士的新海报,并询问男士是否在超市买到的;男
BalancingCollegeLifeandAcademics1.ControlYourSchedule;Don’tLetYourScheduleControlYouOrganizationandtimeman
Generationgapsarenothingnew.ImperfectcommunicationbetweenagegroupsplaguedtheancientGreeksandcurrentworkersalike
Theauthor’sprimarypurposeinwritingthispassageisto______.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatdoctorsareableto
Astudentwhotriesto______(在有考官监视的情况下作弊)isplayingwithfire.
A、Ajoblisting.B、Aresume.C、Apermissionslip.D、Theirsalaryrequirements.B信息明示题。由文章中的besuretobringaresumewithyou可知,
随机试题
轻触眼球角膜引起眨眼动作的调节属于
冈崎片段在细菌和噬菌体中的长度一般为1000-2000个核苷酸,但在真核细胞中,它的长度一般为()个核苷酸
急性根尖周脓肿时,最佳的引流通道
[背景资料]某花园式小区住宅工程,建筑用地面积80000m2,总建筑面积78600m2,其中地上部分建筑面积为75400m2,人防地下室建筑面积为3200m2,建筑层数地上六层,地下一层,建筑总高度23.4m,现浇钢筋混凝土框架结构。基坑深度100m、长
Windows中的“附件”组中一般包含有()两个文字处理软件。
票据出票日期使用小写填写的,开户银行可以受理,但由此造成的损失由出票人自行承担。()
刘宝全被称为“鼓界大王”,李德钖被称为“笑话大王”。()
设A是n(n≥3)阶矩阵,证明:(A*)*=|A|n一2A.
Asawriter,heturnedoutthreenovelsthatyear.
Thetextismainlyabout______.Merlinwascalledadreamerbecausehe______.
最新回复
(
0
)