Editorial: Reading in the Digital Age: The Impact of Using Digital Devices on Children's Reading, Writing and Thinking Skills

摘要

In the digital age, face-to-face communication is increasingly being supplemented, and in somecases even replaced, by computer-mediated communication. We interact less with each otherdirectly but more through social media and other electronic platforms. New words and symbolsare invented and syntax is modified to accommodate these needs, and these spread quickly throughthe virtual media. In schools and at home, children are being exposed to electronic-learning since ayoung age and knowledge acquisition is based on not just printed books but also electronic sourcesand internet contents. They handwrite less but type more, read less printed but more digital books,spell less but use more speech recognition engines to convert voice to text. Impaired readers maybenefit from the audiobooks, and likewise dysgraphic children may write more by typewriting. Howdo the ever increasing exposure to electronic devices and the overwhelmingly rich informationavailable on the internet affect children’s reading, writing, and thinking skills? This Research Topicaims at understanding how the use of electronic devises has changed children’s reading, writing,and thinking skills.