The first eReaders were released in 1998: NuroMedia launched the Rocket and SoftBook released the Softbook reader. The somewhat basic design allowed the user to read an eBook in its simplest form – namely black text on a light background. Both readers also included a built-in dictionary. Holding approximately 10 books, the devices were the same size as the popular paper-back format, but much thicker than subsequent eReaders and with minimal functionality. [1]

14 years on, eBooks and other devices that support eReaders have significantly evolved and are changing the way we consume books.

With the abundance of devices, from the Amazon Kindle to the Tablet PC, the eBook is now available in many formats. The volume and range of devices have made eBooks more accessible and consequently, reading habits have not only changed but we are reading more. Questions we asked in our omnibus survey support this, revealing 29% of all online adults[2] believe their reading has increased in the previous 18 months, and will continue to increase in the next 18 months.

It is a well-known reality that the popularity of the amusement arcade is in decline. The release of 3D TV, augmented reality, motion sensing and online gaming, to name a few, have taken the in-home gaming experience beyond comprehension,  whilst the current economic climate has left gamers unable to cope with arcades’ rising costs. However, perhaps the innovations in technology and the economic climate are not the only reasons for the demise of these venues; perhaps this could also be saying something about the shift in our culture of gaming? Let us take a step back and consider some of the factors.

A brief history…

Cast your mind back to November 2006 when Nintendo, with much furore, released the Nintendo Wii. Nothing like it had been seen before, a games console with a motion sensing controller. Fast forward four years and Microsoft have taken the motion sensing phenomenon one step further and developed Kinect (the controller-free gaming experience for Microsoft’s Xbox 360). With the gaming industry delivering new innovations to the user experience and interactions with video games, GfK is curious as to what the future gaming experience will look like and whether motion sensing or controller lead technologies will emerge as the dominant experiences of the future.