Washington: The spread of mobile technologies have made books more accessible than ever before, thus bringing a “reading revolutionâ€. According to a UNESCO report 62% of those surveyed said they enjoy reading more after they started reading on mobile devices, and one-third said they use their phones to read to their children.
Nearly 5,000 people in seven countries – Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe – took part in the research.
Lead author Mark West said the study found that mobile devices can help people develop, sustain and enhance their literacy skills, which is important because literacy opens the door to life-changing opportunities and benefits.
The UN estimates that around 6 billion people have access to mobile phones today and broadband mobile connections have seen tremendous growth in developing countries. “Collectively, mobile devices are the most ubiquitous information and communication technology in history,” says Unesco. “More to the point, they are plentiful in places where books are scarce.”
The survey also found that mobile reading is a “huge tool of empowerment for women”, said Worldreader’s Nadja Borovac. While 77% of mobile readers in developing countries are male, women spend an average of 207 minutes per month reading on their mobile phones, compared to men’s 33 minutes.
(With ANI inputs)