The difference between the reading experience with a physical book, and a digital one

The difference between the reading experience with a physical book, and a digital one
by
Goh Poh Sun (First draft at 0715pm, on June 7, 2015)

Reading a physical book is both an intellectual, and tactile experience. The physical experience of holding a book, of turning pages, browsing, skimming, deep reading is coupled with a memory of where favourite sections lie in a book, and a sense of where one is in the book, at the beginning, middle or later sections, or end. The experience with a physical book can be a deeper and more engaging one, compared with its digital, or online version. We trade the accessibility of a digital or online copy, for the kinaesthetic experience of the physical version. An online copy is useful as a quick reference, just in time review. The physical copy facilitates long, deep reads. It is easier to get lost in the physical pages, diving deep into a series of ideas with a physical book, compared with its digital or online version. We can choose when, and where to review online material, or its physical version, to take advantage of the utility, and best use of each format.