Why stop this discussion at reading comprehension, digital vs. physical? I would like to see how reading comprehension (both sorts; any sort you can come up with and test) compares to audio comprehension - you know, someone reading a book vs. having a book read to them. I realize that's not the author's point but I think that would be interesting as well. I think that it's not impossible that some people prefer online reading, or physical reading, and others may prefer to hear things read to them instead. I confess: I cannot listen to audiobooks. Or, rather, I can, but I couldn't tell you a single thing that happened. My comprehension goes out the window. I tend to have difficulty doing anything while holding a conversation - I'm okay at typing/speaking if I have what I am going to say in both mediums already plotted out, but otherwise, if I want to know what is being said with good confidence, I have to turn off music, look at the person speaking, and so on. I find it near impossible to drive and talk on the phone. I don't do it, not because of safety concerns, but because I just don't feel like I can concentrate on both at all and I'd rather use the concentration on driving. I know the conversation will go in one ear and out the other. And generally if I am having a conversation with you on the phone I like you and want to remember our conversation. Also, I'd like to not be worried about dying. (I guess it kind of is a safety thing, but it's because I know I simply can't concentrate and I don't feel good. It's more instinct than ingrained.) It is even difficult for me to explain to you what happened in a poem, a single short poem, if I only hear it once and do not have it in front of me. I truly feel that in order to 'know' a written work I must read it. however I know there are many avid audiophiles out there on Hubski! Not tagging kleinbl00! Is there any other way you can think of to consume what originally started as written media? If your school textbooks were broken up into short films, how would that impact you do you think? I knew a girl who memorized things by creating musical mnemotics. I guess that's not quite the same though. I'm not criticizing the original article - but I just do know that I have marked difficulties with audio comprehension, and wonder if maybe looking at other styles too or other types of readers could give more insight. For instance, do poor performing readers perform even more poorly when reading digitally? If deep reading is a bridge to thought, do we not reap those benefits by listening to an audio recording of a book?
I've finished 10 audiobooks in the last 5 months, and I've started-and-returned about 4 books. In total that's around 80 hours of audiobook time and 40 hours of listening time (I listen on 2x). On top of that I listen to an equal amount of podcasts, so I think I can stand in for kb as avid audio-consumer. I mostly listen during train commutes, bike commutes, doing chores. I like audiobooks, as they allow me to learn while doing boring / menial tasks. I don't often drive and listen, roads are just a bit too busy around here. Audiobooks are not the same as a phone conversation though - I can zone out of an audiobook when I need to and just rewind the book later. Phone conversations require much more attention, so much so that driving and calling can have an effect on your driving similar to being intoxicated. While I agree that reading is much better for thoroughly / deeply understanding the book, I just read much much more because of audiobooks. The amount of non-academic books I've finished in the last year can be counted on one hand. Besides, the performance of the narrator can add a lot. I found someone like Jon Ronson very entertaining to listen to. When the book is about something profound or about an emotional scene, it hits much harder when an actual person is talking to you.