Kentaro Takano

Microscopic analysis of document handling while reading paper documents to improve digital reading device

We conducted microscopic analysis on several frequently observed types of work-related reading to find ways to support each type of reading. We obtained empirical data from video recording, concurrent verbal reporting, and retrospective reporting by 18 participants in 10 target types of reading that use paper. Using these data, first, we categorized the ways people interact with paper documents when reading in detail. We analyzed which types of behaviors were frequently observed in each type of reading based on these categories. We will discuss what kind of support is required for each type of reading by specifying what types of behaviors were frequently observed for certain types of reading.

Comparison of paper and computer displays in reading including frequent movement between pages

This paper describes experiments to compare reading with paper versus electronic media when reading with frequently moving back and forth between pages. In the first experiment, eighteen participants read aloud multi-page documents with endnotes in three conditions: paper, a large display, and a small display. Results revealed that reading from paper was 6.8% faster than reading from a large computer display and 11.4% faster than reading from a small computer display. Detailed analyses of the reading process showed that participants performed both reading and page-turning simultaneously in the paper condition. However, when using computer displays, reading and turning pages were performed separately. In the second experiment, 12 participants read documents using electronic system with more effective features for page-turning such as an overview of pages and links from reference symbols to notes. However, paper remained the most efficient medium to support reading with endnotes. This indicates that electronic media should be improved to support between-page navigation.

Page Navigation on Paper Books and Electronic Media in Reading to Answer Questions

This paper describes experiments comparing reading performance such as reading speed and the accuracy of tasks in reading to answer questions using different media: paper books, a desktop PC, and a tablet PC. As typical examples of reading of this kind, we considered two scenarios: searching answers from text manuals and searching given photographs from photo books. In two experiments conducted according to the two scenarios, participants performed tasks most quickly using a paper book or a PC. They had trouble flipping through pages with a tablet PC. Although the paper book was inferior to the PC in terms of turning over pages continuously with rapidity, participants performed flexible navigation with the paper book such as starting the navigation from various positions of the book and jumping to the target position straight away without hesitating skipping over the target. Based on these results, we provide suggestions to improve a page navigation feature in electronic media.

Reading from paper versus reading from a touch-based tablet device in proofreading

This paper describes an experiment to evaluate the impact of the use of a touch-based digital reading device in active reading. We compared the performance of proofreading when using paper and when using a touch-based tablet device. Results showed that participants detected more errors when reading from paper than when reading from the tablet device. During reading, when using paper, participants frequently performed the interaction with text, such as pointing to words or sliding their fingers or pens along sentences. This fact suggests that interaction with text plays an important role in proofreading tasks.

Text Touching Effects in Active Reading: The Impact of the Use of a Touch-Based Tablet Device

This paper describes experiments examining the effect of touching interaction with text in active reading through evaluating the impact of the use of a touch-based tablet device. The first experiment compared the performance of proofreading when using paper and when using a touch-based tablet device. Results showed that participants detected more errors when reading from paper than when reading from the tablet device. During reading, when using paper, participants frequently performed the interaction of text touching, such as pointing to words and sliding their fingers or pens along sentences. This fact suggests that touching interaction with text plays an important role in proofreading tasks. To verify this hypothesis, we conducted a second experiment in which participants proofread documents with constrained interaction with paper. Results showed that they detected more errors when they were allowed to interact with text freely than when they were not allowed to interact with text. Considering these results, we discuss practical implications to effectively support active reading with a touch-based tablet device.

Microscopic analysis of document handling while reading: classification of behavior toward paper document

We conducted a microscopic analysis of work-related reading to find ways to support reading in the workplace. We obtained empirical data from video recording, concurrent verbal reporting, and retrospective reporting of 18 participants in 10 target types of reading using paper. Using these data, we categorized the ways people interact with paper while reading in detail. We will discuss what kinds of support are required for work-related reading.

Proposal and Evaluation of a Document Reader that Supports Pointing and Finger Bookmarking

Pointing and finger bookmarking effectively support reading from paper. However, current electronic media do not support these operations. Readers are discouraged to trace or point text with fingers on popular touchscreen tablet devices because the gestures may cause undesired view changes. Also, bookmarking with the current interface does not provide the ease of finger bookmarking. For solving the problems mentioned above, we proposed a document reader that provides seamless switching between pointing/tracing and touch operations, and integrate features that simulate finger bookmarking by using simple gestures. The results of two experiments (proof reading and cross reference reading between pages) show that participants performed the tasks faster with the proposed system than with the conventional touchscreen systems.