AN electronic book revolution could lighten the schoolbag load for pupils while leaving their parents' pockets feeling somewhat heavier.

School will never be quite the same again for the 18 first years at Caritas College, Ballyfermot, Dublin, selected for one of the world's first e-book classroom trials.

The ease with which the iPod generation has accepted the change was summed up by one pupil who described the new paperless approach to study as "deadly".

A single electronic device weighing less than half a kilo, and measuring about eight by six inches, has replaced more than 6kgs of schoolbooks as well as being pre-loaded with 50 classic novels.

The device, known as the iLiad, electronically stores the textbooks for six subjects. It may be used to write and retain notes as in a regular textbook and will download material from a computer, if the material is already in PDF form.

Caritas College was selected for the trial by educational book publishers Gill & McMillan because of existing links with the school.

Gill & McMillan sales and marketing director Peter Thew said one hurdle to its widespread adoption was that electronic books did not enjoy the same VAT-free status as printed books in Ireland.

But he argued the iLiad had the capacity to slash costs for parents because it eliminated printing or distribution costs -- savings which the publisher could pass on.

The iLiad uses technology known as e-ink, which makes it a very similar experience to reading ink on paper.

Potential

"We are very excited about its potential. Although we believe that the widespread adoption of e-readers is some time off, this project allows us to determine how well they work in the classroom, and how the pupils interact with them," said Mr Thew.

English teacher Tara Brady, who is leading the project at Caritas College, said the e-book was "tremendous".

She added: "In terms of time management it is very effective. Pupils are more likely to remember to bring one device than all of their books and you won't have three or four pupils turning up saying they haven't got the novel."