I’ve been using eReaders to read books since I was in middle school, primarily using e-ink displays that mimic the appearance of paper and that don’t have distracting applications or features that take away my focus from reading. While I prefer e-ink displays from a user experience perspective because it doesn’t involve bright screens, no way of accessing digital text is 100% perfect and I’ve learned to use different workflows to access content on my device independently. Here are my tips for using eReaders with e-ink displays and low vision accessibility strategies that can make content easier to access.
eReaders traditionally come with one of two types of displays, LCD and e-ink (sometimes stylized as eInk). LCD displays are similar to the displays found on smartphones and tablet computers and are optimized for reading in indoor environments or areas with limited lighting, while e-ink displays mimic the appearance of a book page and are optimized for use with other environmental lighting such as a lamp or outdoor reading. Some eInk displays may have an optional backlight feature for providing additional illumination.
Advantages of using e-ink displays for reading with low vision include:
Disadvantages of using e-ink displays for reading with low vision include:
When it comes to reading novels or text-only content, I prefer to use an e-ink display because I am sensitive to bright lights and can read from the paper-like display as long as large print sizes are enabled (anything with lots of pictures or colors is read with an eReader app on my iPad). As for navigating menus with small print, I have developed a few workarounds for accessing content, and have also memorized the device layout so I can use motor memory to navigate different screens without having to look closely at the screen.
When learning to use a new e-ink device with low vision, it’s helpful to have a copy of the device manual displayed on a separate screen that can be enlarged. To view the screen more easily, a magnifying glass, desktop video magnifier or similar magnification tool can be used to help a user familiarize themselves with a device and enlarge the display further.
Another option is to work with an assistive technology specialist, technology trainer or another person to learn how to use the device with low vision. Some stores also offer free in-person support for learning to use a new device, which was the case when I purchased a Nook from Barnes and Noble.
One strategy that may be helpful is creating a DIY tactile overlay, which can be used to provide additional contrast/outlines for learning to use a device. I’ve linked a video from Perkins School for the Blind that uses an iPad overlay as an example, but the process and materials are the same.
Important tech skills to cover when learning to use an eReader include:
One of the disadvantages of e-ink displays (and eReaders in general) is that device menus can often include small font sizes that are difficult or impossible to read. In these situations, it is helpful to have external magnification available, such as a magnifying glass, video magnifier or other optical device. Personally, I often use my phone camera as a makeshift magnifier to zoom in on menus or small print.
Examples of times when I need to use external magnification with my eReader include:
I don’t need to use magnification while reading because my eReader’s font size is large enough for me to read comfortably without magnification, and I know the locations of the library button and current reading buttons on the device toolbar.
While my eReader has an option for buying eBooks directly from the device, I have trouble navigating this interface due to the small font size. However, this isn’t the only way to add new books to an eReader, and I use the following strategies for adding new books to the eBook library:
Books that are downloaded/purchased from a brand’s website will be automatically added to the device library when the device is connected to the internet. Users can add content to their eReader purchased or downloaded from another source using a process called sideloading.
Before sideloading content on an eReader, take note of what file formats are supported by the device. Nook eReaders support PDF and EPUB formats, while the Amazon Kindle eReaders support PDF, DOC/DOCX, TXT, EPUB, HTML and Kindle’s proprietary file formats.
To sideload content from a computer to an eReader:
Once the eReader is filled with content, how will the user figure out what they want to read? Normally I rely on colored icons or shapes to navigate interfaces or identify content, but this isn’t an option on an e-ink display. My favorite strategies for organizing books on an e-ink display with low vision include:
Some users may prefer to download fewer books at a time or delete/archive books when finished to reduce the amount of visual clutter on their device or make it easier to locate books.
For books that do not have DRM protection, users can change the book covers by importing the file into Calibre (a free open-source software for managing eBooks) or a similar program that edits individual metadata for titles. When editing the metadata, users have the option to change the book cover and replace it with their own file or generate an alternative cover. This may make it easier to locate books in the eBook library.
E-ink displays often feature a minimalist display for text, which is great for distraction-free reading. However, users with low vision will likely need to customize display settings for reading, which will automatically be applied whenever they open a new book – I find that I rarely have to adjust these display settings from book to book when I am reading EPUB file formats. This can often be configured within a book by selecting the display settings icon, which looks like an Aa icon on most devices.
E-ink displays offer the following options for customizing the display of content:
For supported devices, backlight illumination can be activated by either pressing a button on the device or using a slider on the display settings menu.
Most e-ink displays do not have an option for invert colors/inverted displays, also known as dark mode. While this is an option for select Kindle Paperwhite devices (enabled under accessibility settings), I have not personally recommended it to anyone because it has a noticeable flashing effect when turning pages and appears to have an impact on battery life.
For users that would want a “tinted” screen while reading that is different from the off-white display built into the device, one strategy I have used is placing a colored overlay sheet on top of the screen, which is made of transparent tinted material. The sheet itself is cut to fit the size of the display and can be removed when not in use.
By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com
Published October 2024.
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