2.0 KiB
skimming/scanning
skimming
Skimming is reading for gist, between the lines, in a semi-distracted state. A way to get the main idea of a text quickly, flipping pages, jumping pages with the spacebar, infinitely scrolling. I think of skimming stones, as my eyes jump in saccades over the surface of the text.
Many folk prefer to read from paper than from a screen. A common complaint is that reading from a screen is tiring, especially when you just want the gist of a text. TL;DR. This article will take about 16mins to read.
scanning
Scanning is reading for particular details such as names and numbers by running one's eyes over every word in a line. Sometimes I find myself using a finger to guide my eyes when scanning a printed text. With a computer and full-text search capabilities, it's often as simple as pressing control- or command-F.
We search for efficiency in the way we read, seeking methods that save time and deliver the information we need with as little effort as possible.
Scanning is also a process of photographing printed matter so that it may be digitally available for manipulation or electronic distribution. For this purpose, a bookscanner is the tool of choice for many archivists. The bookscanner has two cameras, one to capture the odd pages, and one for the even pages. Most bookscanners consist of a system of pulleys which allow the book to be raised to two perpendicular sheets of glass, which will lay the pages flat and ensure the focus is correct. It's quite a workout, and is usually reserved for books which are difficult to find in digital format. Essentially the bookscanner takes two photos for each spread, and then these must go through a variety of processes to produce a digital book. Ultimately, the most useful digital books include a digital text layer generated by OCR (Optical Character Recognition), which allows you to control-F to find a word quickly with a full-text search.