The Evolution of Reading in the Age of Digitisation: An Integrative Framework for Reading Research

Abstract

The spectrum of substrates for textual reading is being broadened as a result of digitisation to include a variety of screen-based technologies and reading devices, such as e-readers (e.g. kindle) and tablets (e.g. iPad). These technologies differ significantly from paper in terms of their capabilities. Given that textual reading is both likely to remain important as a cultural practice and is undergoing massive change as digital screens supplement paper – with the potential to replace it as the dominant substrate – there is an urgent need to investigate the effects of this change on the reading of various types of texts for various purposes. The necessity for an integrated, transdisciplinary paradigm of embodied, textual reading that takes into consideration its psychological, ergonomic, technical, social, cultural, and evolutionary components is discussed in this essay. The suggested model aims to be somewhat explanatory in the sense that it connects and integrates the available data. It is also partially exploratory in the sense that it highlights knowledge gaps that require further research. As a result, the model will be utilized to direct the planning of future research as well as to increase the compatibility and applicability of research.