Journal of Literacy and Technology Digital Books with Media-rich Paper: Enhancing Reading Comprehension through Touch User Interface Technology

The current paper summarizes the problem of K-12 students’ comprehension of text. In an effort to improve reader understanding the publishing industry has adopted numerous research-based recommendations to facilitate learning by including visual elements that supplement text: graphic organizers; pictures; graphics; and digital audio and video supplements. Numerous research studies support the supplementary use of visual/video and audio adjunct elements to support students’ learning of content. Despite these improvements a major dilemma remains: How can text seamlessly intertwine with digital content? Separately packaged video, audio and computer programs fail to connect a reader immediately to digital content during the actual textbased reading process. One possible technological solution to this problem is Touch-UserInterface (TUI) paper-to-digital content books. Media-rich Paper consists of paper pages, exactly like those contained in a book, except that the paper lies on top of touch-sensitive panels programmed to connect instantly to the digital realm via a companion computer. Such a seamless connection might improve reading comprehension for all learners. A dual call is articulated for: (1) the development of this technology specifically for improving reading comprehension; and (2) the technical evaluation of the affect of TUI/Media-rich Paper on reading comprehension achievement.