I fidget with the trackpad the entire time. On chrome this does nothing except scroll and highlight. When i try it on edge the whole page moves for no reason (use it and see what i mean) which is the main reason i prefer Chrome.
Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
41–50 of 63 posts
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#42Yes! All the damn time
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#43Yes, we are called selection readers
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#44I've never actually thought to do this but its kind of genius.
I promise, it's not :D It's more of a fidget/habit than any kind of reading comprehension hack.
My partner does it and it irritates me but she gets me back for it when I’m mindlessly clicking the mouse as I read things - which I think is from my days of playing StarCraft and Warcraft 3.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#45Yeah it's really satisfying. Even though I'll never refer to it later on. I think it helps with memorizing key points
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#46yes, I do, sometimes continually "dragging drown" from the line I am currently on, there's not much system in it, but it keeps me focused on the text. Maybe it's a kind of fidgeting.
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#47This is common among people with ADHD or visual tracking issues. Highlighting text helps focus your attention, and it provides a visual guide as you move between adjacent lines.
If you find highlighting to be useful, check out BeeLine Reader. [1] It offers a similar benefit, and also improves reading speed for many people. Disclosure: I am the creator (and am happy to give an extended free pass to any HNers who reach out!).
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#48[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#49I do. Except on sites like Medium where if you click anything it highjacks the selection and gives you a bunch of nonsense. For example this article on the front page right now: https://medium.com/enzymit-log/why-enzymit-decided-to-build-... Try selecting text.
I get a tiny popup on top of the selection but that's about it. Is it because I have an adblocker? What do you see?
Re: Ask HN: Anyone highlight text as they read?
#50Yeah I always tripple click things I read, always have. Drove a coworker of mine nuts because he just hears clickerclickclick all the time. I just do it mindlessly. I think it helps me focus? I tried to abstain from it for the sake of the coworker but it was really hard to focus.
Edit: This is also why I don't read articles on medium. Before I know it I've shared half a sentence or a word to twitter or some shit.