Improving E-Reader Durability
Worldreader
November 2013

Executive Summary

Worldreader has placed 4,127 e-readers into the hands of over 12,000 children in 10 Sub-Saharan African countries to-date. These e-readers contain 721,129 books in total, and have gotten children reading more and reading better. Between 2010 and 2013, Worldreader has reduced device failure (breakage) rates on its Kindle programs in Sub-Saharan Africa from 40.5% to between 1% and 5% for primary school kids who do not take the device home, and for secondary school students. For primary school children who take the device home, breakage rates range up to 9.72%, which still represents a significant increase in reliability.

Worldreader accomplished this reduction in device failure rates in three steps: First, Worldreader interviewed its students to understand the circumstances under which the devices broke. Secondly, Worldreader increased awareness of the device’s fragility among students and teachers, so that behavior change would take place. Finally, Worldreader worked closely with device and accessory manufacturers, resulting in a more robust e-reader package that enables children to access a portable library in the palms of their hands.

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