Håkon BakkeNov 2, 2023
ananas

To people who this reaches, and who read scientific papers, what media you use for reading those?

If you know people who could improve the results in your followers, please boost for visibility.

Computer screen
81.4%
Printed on paper
11.8%
Printed academic journals
0.7%
Other
6.1%
Poll ended at .
Nov 2, 2023 at 4:29amWeb
Show threadananasNov 3, 2023

Ok, this blew up more than I thought it would, by around 400 answers! Thanks everyone for replies.

The poll got started when I started thinking about how I read quite a few papers (in physics, mostly) which have a bit... antiquated formatting for a paper. I mean not even nice to read on paper, not just that it sucked on computer screen which I most often use. (Though I have my remarkable too when I want to scribble notes, recommended)

Well, I got led into a rabbit hole like I often do.

Show threadananasNov 3, 2023

I am not really happy about any of the options I have available. And the rabbit hole led me as far as trying to get a second hand pinenote since they aren't available @pine64eu @PINE64 , wink wink.

I think it is easier to read papers as paper, and I want to take notes. Remarkable is good for some of this, but it's not really that good with papers and getting them in and out of the device (especially the way I'd like).

Show threadananasNov 3, 2023
Paper is wasteful, and I keep losing track of them (my brian doesn't handle that). Computer screens are often "good enough", but papers don't really take any advantage of the digital form, even though -- as expected -- the majority seems to use their computers for the papers.
Show threadananasNov 3, 2023
So, I was thinking that there might be a middle ground somewhere, and well. I'm still trying to figure some things out, but an open device like pinenote, with some academia/education-specific software could maybe strike a perfect balance. Hacking on my remarkable (which wouldn't be exactly new to me) could solve the problem for me, but I was left wondering if there could be a more general solution.
Show threadJan AdriaenssensNov 2, 2023
@ananas “Other”: An e-ink reader (“reMarkable”) on which I can take notes too.
Show threadLauma Pret 🕸️Nov 2, 2023
@ananas
I hope to buy ebook reader for that eventually, preferably something with stencil to make notes, but it has not happened yet.
Show threadananasNov 3, 2023
@laumapret I've used remarkable and can recommend it for the task, but it still leaves me wanting.
Show threadLauma Pret 🕸️Nov 3, 2023
@ananas
I was recommended to try Kobo, I think, it was Elipsa model as it is supposed to be more open to various formats. But life happened and it is still in my wishlist.
Show threadIan SudberyNov 2, 2023

@ananas

I can read on a screen if i'm looking for a specific piece of information, but I want to properly absorb and be able to critique a paper, it has to be printed - I just don't absorb it from a screen.

I'd love to do it with an eReader, but too many of the papers I read rely on colour.

Show threadarclightNov 2, 2023
@ananas Insofar as most of the scientific literature I read comes from OSTI https://www.osti.gov/ or SciHub, I don't believe I've read more than 1-2 printed papers in the past 15 years. My use case is industrial, not academic; I'm usually checking references as part of a formal technical review or constructing a technical basis for a report I'm writing. Much of the literature I use is 20+ years old and without institutional access to journals, it's a challenge to confirm citations.
U.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information

 

Show threadQuincyNov 2, 2023

@ananas to really read a paper well, I must print it.

and underline stuff with an actual pen. and scribble on the margins.

screen: as preview only.

Show threadJohn KennedyNov 2, 2023
@ananas Computer screen, but my preference is to print them out and scribble all over them.
Show threadNiels Nielsen, geographerNov 2, 2023
@ananas I rarely read such papers, but when I do, I allow myself to use the school's printer. Small luxury.
Show threadAlexNov 2, 2023
@ananas I read them on my e-reader
Show threadwolixNov 2, 2023
@ananas I use a tablet screen (iPad) which is to me something very different than a computer screen. that's why I vote other
Show threadsimonthelwallNov 2, 2023
@ananas remarkable2 ftw
Show threadFosstonaut (Gamey) Nov 2, 2023
@ananas I follow two newspapers I like to read from time to time on Mastodon and if I see something interesting I click it so primarily computer and smartphone (voted for computer screen)
Show threadMichael CollinsNov 2, 2023
@ananas Start with Computer Screen, if it needs a deeper read I’ll print it out and sit in a comfortable chair and read it with a pencil and notebook
Show threadJarkko SakkinenJul 16, 2024
As a seldom science paper consumer, not a scientist, I browse 95% of papers from which I need a slice of info on my computer screen, but the 5% that I actually need to understand in depth and detail I always print on paper.