Training on the Go: The Use of E-ink Devices in Translator Training

Abstract

In contemporary education and professional life, digital technology has become an indispensable tool in nearly all areas of activity, including work, study, and leisure. Devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, along with a wide range of software and applications are used daily for regulating systems, maintaining records, producing and revising texts, and translating between languages. This study focuses on the last of these activities, translation and aims to explore a novel technological device, the e-ink tablet, as an educational aid in higher education translation training. The e-ink tablet resembles an A4 or B5 paper notebook in size and offers a paper-like display that allows handwriting with a stylus in multiple colours. Its screen is easy on the eyes and never “runs out of pages,” while also providing a sustainable, lightweight, and portable alternative to traditional notebooks. Furthermore, it integrates a variety of intelligent applications that can support teaching and learning processes. The purpose of this paper is to present these features with a particular focus on translation pedagogy and to describe a pilot translation task that demonstrates the potential benefits of incorporating this device into translator training.

The authors of the present study are translation and interpreting instructors who observed a growing number of students using e-ink tablets in the classroom, either alongside or in place of laptops and conventional tablets. Students report that e-ink tablets replicate the visual and tactile qualities of paper, allowing them to write with a stylus while benefiting from a digital device’s extensive storage capacity and sustainability advantages. These features make the e-ink tablet a promising hybrid between traditional and digital learning tools. Recent research (e.g. Saghar et al. 2023) also highlights its ecological advantages, positioning it as a sustainable educational resource. While previous studies have explored the role of tablets in interpreter training, focusing on note-taking, digital portfolios, and classroom process documentation (Arumí and Sánchez-Gijón 2019; Drechsel and Goldsmith 2020; Wang et al. 2023), very little research has addressed their application in translator training, particularly in the context of e-ink display devices. This paper seeks to fill this research gap by examining how e-ink tablets can enhance the development of translation competence and digital literacy among students, as well as how their integration can contribute to the professional digital competence of instructors.

The paper first provides an overview of the main technical and pedagogical features of e-ink tablets, followed by a discussion of how these can be integrated into the learning process to support cognitive and metacognitive aspects of translation training. Next, it presents the design and implementation of a simplified, idealized translation task conducted as a pilot project. Through this case study, the paper illustrates how e-ink tablets can serve as effective tools for reflection, revision, and documentation in the translation classroom, enhancing student engagement and learning outcomes. The results suggest that e-ink tablets can bridge the gap between analogue and digital translation workflows by combining the advantages of handwriting-based cognitive processing with the organizational and accessibility benefits of digital technologies. As such, the study encourages both translation teachers and students to experiment with this innovative device, which may enrich traditional pedagogical approaches and contribute to more sustainable, flexible, and interactive learning environments in translator education.