Credit Barnes & Noble with understanding an issue that plagues a host of readers, particularly ones that read in bed; it’s hard to get the lighting right on the page without straining a reader’s eyes or without annoying a partner in bed. But no more as the company has added a backlight feature to its latest Nook e-reader tablet, the Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight.
The GlowLight automatically comes on and is user adjustable to meet individual needs. It is an array of LEDs that are in the frame and shed a light across the reading surface of the tablet.
Barnes & Noble did not use just anecdotal evidence to make the decision to add backlighting to the Nook. In a survey the company found that 64 percent of people read in bed, and people with ereaders are the most likely to read in bed with 72 percent responding that they did.
This ties in very closely with the results that found 77 percent of respondents say they or their partner requires light for their bedtime reading, while 90 percent said that they prefer a sleep environment that is completely dark.
It is interesting that color screen tablets have the exact opposite issue that black and white ones do. Black and white displays do pretty well in direct sunlight, while the opposite is true with color. But turn off the lights and the color displays really show their stuff.
The company is currently taking preorders for the $139 Nook Simple Touch with GlowLight and said that it is expected to ship in May.The company needs a shot in the arm because despite doing relatively well with its Nook, fears are growing that Amazon will be the beneficiary of the recent DOJ investigation into Apple and 5 publishers.
