NeRD: US Navy’s own e-reader

Due to certain safety and security risks, US sailor are not always allowed to use smartphones or tablets. Consequently, the Navy turned to the design board and came up with ‘NerRD’: the Navy E-Reader Device.

The Kindle-looking custom-made device is a secure e-reader that comes with 300 pre-loaded e-books. Since the device lacks any cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity, the security risks it presents are reduced to a minimum.

‘I know the paperbacks (on Navy ships) get passed back and forth until they fall apart. We're hoping the NeRD holds up a little better,’ said Nilya Carrato, program assistant for the Navy General Library Program.

Each submarine in the US active fleet will receive five NeRD devices which comprise a mix of fiction, nonfiction, best-sellers, classics and historical books, carefully selected by the Navy.

Some of the titles include: the ‘Game of Thrones’ series, ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,’ ‘Ender's Game,’ ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ Stephen King's ‘The Stand’ and ‘The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.’

The e-readers were developed with help from the Findaway World company that provides the Pentagon with digital services and audiobook technology.