Navy eReader Device

Navy eReader Device (NeRD) is an e-reader developed by the United States Navy's General Library Program for use aboard its submarines.^[1]

Navy eReader Device

Also known as	NeRD
Developer	United States Navy
Manufacturer	Findaway World
Type	E-reader
Release date	May 2014 (2014-05)
Display	E Ink
Connectivity	None

E-reader

Released in May 2014,^[2] it gives sailors accessibility to the Navy's library and various books while on a submarine that has limited storage space for paper books; sailors are normally on a six-month deployment and have some downtime for reading. Each submarine is assigned five NeRDs. In late 2014, the Navy started released the device to its surface fleet, distributing over 1,170 NeRDs.^[3]

Each NeRD costs the Navy $3,000, but most of the cost is e-book licensing so the material costs are minimal.^[4] It has adjustable font types and sizes, includes a carrying case, is not equipped with internet capabilities due to security concerns^[5] and will be not available to the general public.^[6]

Titles included

It is loaded with nearly 300 books in a wide variety of genres as well as many Tom Clancy novels. Some of the included books:^[7]

• Most of the 18 titles in the Chief of Naval Operations' Professional Reading Program^[8]
• A Game of Thrones
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
• Bossypants
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
• Into the Wild
• 1776
• To Kill a Mockingbird
• Bible (King James Version)^[9]
• Quran^[9]
• Book of Mormon^[9]