US Ambassador Suzi LeVine sworn in using Kindle e-reader

The new ambassador to Switzerland took her oath of office on an e-reader instead of the traditional text

Suzi Levine is sworn in as Ambassador using an e-reader

Technology replaced tradition as Suzi LeVine became the first US ambassador to take an oath of office using a digital device – an e-reader.

At a ceremony at the US embassy in London, LeVine, 44, placed her hand on the electronic device as she was sworn in as the American diplomatic representative for Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The brand and model of LeVine's e-reader is not yet confirmed, although the Washington Post have referred to it as a Kindle Touch.

The e-reader industry is growing, making up 16 per cent of all book sales, and recent projections have indicate it will be worth more than print book publishing by 2017.

Amazon's Kindle is the clear market leader, with 40 per cent of US ebook readers using a Kindle compared to the iPad's 27 per cent.

Though this is the highest-profile example of technology replacing tradition at these government ceremonies, it is not the first incident.

New York state’s Nassau County Executive was sworn in using an iPad earlier this year when a printed copy of the Bible couldn’t be found, Newsday reported.

Similarly, last year, several firefighters used a Bible app on iPad as they took their oath.