There's no doubt that the invention of e-readers has greatly impacted book sales. Here are some numbers to look at:

• 51% of e-reader owners increased their purchases of e-books in the past year. ¹
• 9% of consumers increased their purchases of hardcover books in the past year. ¹

Oklahoma State University professor Bill Handy has big plans for the Apple iPad this fall. If the text messages he has received since the school announced he would test the tablet-style e-reader in some courses are any indication, students are eager to get their hands on the devices, too.

Handy, who teaches in the School of Media and Strategic Communications, is quick to stress that his intent is not to celebrate the new technology so much as to evaluate its effectiveness in the classroom.