Did this compare pdfs formatted for 8.5x11? Ironically, I cannot effectively read this on my phone because the formatting requires constant horizontal scrolling, though I find the same issue with reading documents like this (that don't wrap/reflow) on a regular computer screen.<p>I guess I'm wondering does this study compare the medium (paper vs screen) or whether it's easier to read when formatting matches the medium (a document formatted for paper read on paper vs screen)?
Direct link to proper PDF from sci-hub: <a href="https://sci-hub.tw/10.1016/j.ijer.2012.12.002" rel="nofollow">https://sci-hub.tw/10.1016/j.ijer.2012.12.002</a><p>My personal experience is very much aligned with the findings of this paper. I lose A LOT of IQ points when I'm reading on screen. It's the general medium difference, but also ability to concentrate, the context where I'll be reading, and general attitude.<p>As others have mentioned eInk partially mitigates some of these differences, but not all. Paper has still a big role to play if we want effective learning.
Related book I found very interesting <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shallows_(book)" rel="nofollow">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shallows_(book)</a>. I always felt this way but after reading this book I doubled down on reading on paper.
Also worth reading (though in Japanese) - Effect of Reading a Book on a Tablet Computer on Cerebral Blood Flow
in the Prefrontal Cortex (2018) -
<a href="https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjh/73/1/73_39/_pdf/-char/en" rel="nofollow">https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jjh/73/1/73_39/_pdf/-ch...</a><p>Showed increased brain activity (increase in regional cerebral blood flow) was observed following reading a novel on a tablet computer compared with that after reading a printed book.