Kindle’s Usability is on Fire (in a good way)
The Kindle Oasis is a product I cannot go without, whether I am traveling or having down time at a cafe. It was created by Amazon so users could access their books electronically with convenience. This is a short reflection on how the Kindle has made reading more convenient for me based on principles of usability and accessibility. I have broken down some of Kindle’s elements below to illustrate what makes it usable and accessible in a successful way.
I recently got a Kindle Oasis after many years of protest that was rooted in my determination to stick to traditional forms of reading aka books in the age of digital revolution. I thought to myself, “no new technology can beat the smell of old books or the expediency to write notes in the pages.” However, the Kindle allowed me to trade in my heavy, cumbersome books for a sleek e-reading device. It was a solution to my problem: not being able to transport and read any type of book in any environment.
Why was it so easy to transition from books to an e-reader?
The product allows me to load 1000+ books into one device and it gives me so much satisfaction. I no longer have to be strategic about what books I can fit in my travel bags because all of them can fit on the device. Moreover, I don’t need to choose lighter books that have less priority on my reading list just because they are lighter. I can now download all types of books, long or short, and enjoy them whenever and wherever I want.
Reading a book on the Kindle is also a straightforward process. It is learnable because of its mapping. The Kindle’s mapping gives users conventional cues to go through paths such as reading a book: pushing control arrow buttons maps to moving left and right through a book. I was instantly able to figure out how to use the device based on previous conventions of clicking left and right arrows on a monitor to navigate webpages. In the context of the Kindle, the left and right buttons at the bottom allow me to flip between pages just like the way I would flip through a book in real life.
From the home screen, I can easily find and double-tap the book I want to read. I can even add notes or highlight text by double tapping the area and holding until the word is selected. Then I am presented with buttons where I have the option to define a word, highlight, or annotate the selected text. This feature allowed to me let go of my past grievances about not being able to write notes on the sides of pages. I was delighted that I could still write notes just as I would in a book but now the notes were more legible. I could easily look up words for definitions I was unsure about without a separate application or device such as my computer or phone. I used the Kindle naturally as if I was reading a book but with increased efficiency since I didn’t need separate tools or devices to aid my experience.
One of the biggest enhancements the Kindle made in my reading experience was the ability to use my books in any kind of environment whether it was blindingly bright outside, dark, or near a swimming pool! The Kindle adjusts its screen brightness and clarity so there is no screen glare. It is also waterproof so I can take it into a bath for relaxing reading without fear of dropping my “book”. This means I can read(use) the device with flexibility and convenience.
It is also efficient, one of the broad usability heuristics. The Kindle responds to my actions quickly with response times under a second. This means I can finish my tasks faster. Moreover, this allows my actions and flow of thought to be smooth and uninterrupted.
It also provides accessibility for the blind with solutions such as Audible, Amazon’s audiobook service. Audible was integrated to make Kindle’s design more usable for those with disabilities but it also made the product more usable for all. The feature increased accessibility for the blind with a simple tap of a button to switch from reading to listening. Yet this feature is not just for edge cases or problems outside the norm, it also gives flexibility to general users. Now they can seamlessly go from reading in the morning, switch to listening while they shower, and switch back to reading on the train for their work commute. You never have to pause once even if your environment changes. It is supremely usable! Oftentimes, solutions that are made for accessibility can further solve problems for users as a whole. This solution, incorporated specifically for accessibility, has gone further by providing benefits for users as a whole.
In the end, I converted from traditional books to an e-reader because it is more accessible and convenient; it gives me the experience of reading a book without all the bulk. Although it does not mimic all sensory elements e.g. dog-earing a book, its benefits of accessibility and usability have trumped my old convictions.
While I still love print books and will never stop appreciating them, the Kindle has got me under its fire for now.
