Ever since glass screens on our TVs and smartphones became more popular than pages in a book, rumours and speculations have it the end of reading books is nigh. The older generation entered a state of panic and despair at the thought of their kids and grandchildren’s cold, empty, bookless future.
And it’s true, you can’t go far without seeing a child glued to a tablet, a world’s worth of entertainment, videos, apps and games at the swipe of their finger. It’s much less common to see them with a book in their hand. It begs the question, ‘Are these kids reading books at all?’
A study by Common Sense Media showed that kids read for fun less and less as they get older, with 45% of 17-year-olds saying they read by choice only once or twice a year.
The end of a traditional way of reading may be on the horizon, but as with everything, books have to evolve and become part of our modern world. Most reading apps have simply transformed the physical book layout into digital form. Few have stretched the imagination to create a new, modern way of reading.
LiquidText lives up to its title of “Most Innovative App of 2015,” which was awarded to the company by Apple store, and has indeed managed to ‘reimagine’ how we read.
The PDF and document reader makes the most of today’s technology by creating an intuitive multi-touch reading experience that allows users to really digest what they’re taking in. You can swipe important quotes right off the page, connect two completely different excerpts and glance at another page without leaving the one you’re on. No more getting stuck on one sentence, reading it over and over losing track of the main concept. Now you can really engage with the document and dissect it with swipes and pinches that will soon feel as naturally as flicking the page over.
Using notes and comments, you can make sense of your own ideas and interpretations and never lose context with the original sources just a tap away. You can then share your annotated LiquidText files with others who can add their own.
This app also encourages collaborative reading, where readers can exchange ideas on specific concepts and themes through cloud services such as Dropbox and Box. It may not offer face-to-face discussions, but you have to admit–that’s pretty cool.
LiquidText lets users interact with what they’re reading, making it the whole thing an easier, more productive and more enjoyable experience.
