Fonts are more subtle things than they seem (and Sheldon Cooper won't contradict me on this subject). Some are easier to read than others and there are even fonts that boost your memory. The way things are written is therefore very important for understanding a text and reading it quickly. This is the observation made by the designers of "Bionic Reading" which goes a little further than that. More than just a font, it is a method that could improve your reading speed and your understanding of texts. Here is what you need to know about this innovative reading method.
What is the bionic reading method?
Bionic reading, also known as Bionic Reading, is a speed reading method that helps improve the understanding and fixation of words and letters. It was developed by Renato Casutt, a scientist at the Swiss University ETH Zurich, who created this method whose principles are based on the concept of visual information processing by the brain.
Bionic Reading reprocesses texts to highlight the most concise parts of words.
The reader then focuses his attention on the main point and the brain assimilates more quickly literally what it sees. This technique allows to accelerate the speed of reading and allows to better understand the information.
The method's website defines it as follows:
Bionic Reading is a new method that facilitates the reading process by guiding the eyes through the text using artificial fixation points. In this way, the reader focuses only on the highlighted initial letters and lets the brain complete the word. In a digital world dominated by superficial forms of reading, Bionic Reading aims to encourage deeper reading and understanding of written content.
To reprocess texts, this method combines three elements:
- la fixation defines the expression of letter combinations. Basically, the stronger the fixation, the more letters are made bold to accentuate the fixation point
- la jerky sets the width of the gap between the fixing points
- theopacity helps to increase the visibility of the fixing points
All of these elements are adjustable to suit your reading preferences.
What benefits can be gained from using this technique?
In theory, the Bionic Reading method has many advantages over traditional reading. First of all, this method allows for a significant improvement in speed reading skills, which allows readers to consume more content in less time and save time.
Additionally, overall comprehension is significantly improved because words and letters are considered as whole units by the brain.
Finally, it can help readers focus more on the text to increase their ability to retain and understand the information they read.
How to apply this speed reading method to different formats?
The Bionic Reading method can be applied to books, web content, apps… The free version is available as a Chrome extension, allowing readers to practice their skills quickly and easily. There are also apps for iOS and Android as well as a web version of the app.
In these apps you can paste text, upload a file (Word, EPUB or RTF) or paste a link to a web page/article.
Click on “Process” to start enriching the text and it will be displayed with bold letters.
You can then download the result in PDF, EPUB format or even send it to your Kindle to read later!
Why should you try the Bionic Reading method?
The Bionic Reading method is a technical speed reading that can be easily applied to various formats and platforms. It improves speed reading skills and helps readers focus more on the contents and better understand what they read. It is very simple to implement and can be used anywhere: computer, smartphone, e-reader, etc.
Some people with conditions like ADHD or dyslexia have found that Bionic Reading improves their reading comprehension. Others don't seem to notice much difference compared to regular text.
It's up to you to make up your own mind!
As of this writing, there is no evidence that Bionic Reading is better than regular text. However, if you find it easier to read, there is no reason not to give it a try. It is likely that other apps and devices will implement this feature as it gains popularity.
