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Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

beelinereader.com

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Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#261

Post by wildgift »

calipast wrote: post #56
snowwrestler wrote: post #48

You can also reduce line transition errors by increasing font size and line spacing. The font in the "What is it" paragraph is, to my eyes, too small and tightly spaced to be easily readable (perhaps purposefully, to demonstrate their value).

That's probably the point: Beeline makes it easier to read more text on a small screen. Increasing font size and line spacing doesn't work well on a smartphone, much less a smartwatch.

I think the line spacing and line length matter more than the font size. With these high-resolution displays, the fonts can be pretty small, and they're still readable, but you then need to make the column narrower and add a couple pixels to the line height.

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#262

Post by tomkarlo »

cbsmith wrote: post #253
tomkarlo wrote: post #147

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There's an existing, broadly used method for solving the line transition errors - you background color every two lines in an alternating set of colors. There used to be ribbon-feed printer paper pre-colored with this for certain applications that involve reading across lines a lot (like database output.) Seems like that is a more practical solution. Here's what I mean: http://www.stationerytrade.com/upfile/images/big…

I thought it was every three lines, but yeah.

I think you're right. It's been a few years since I saw one of these in person.

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#263

Post by tomkarlo »

skizm wrote: post #163
tomkarlo wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not that clear-cut. There's a real reason to ask if there's studies here, because it's not easy to self-assess if this actually works. Reading is more than just "how fast can I scan the lines in order" - it's also about comprehension, eye fatigue, etc. All of which are hard for an individual to assess casually. I think this is interesting, but I'd want to see studies on what the incremental cognitive load of "co…

I totally disagree with this sentiment (respectfully, of course). If you know the numbers it will bias your experience. You need to try it for yourself and determine on an individual level if your comprehension/speed suffers, improves or stays the same.

I'm saying that regardless of whether you know the number or not, you're probably unable to assess the impact of the system simply via personal trial. E.g., one person can't test reading speed or comprehension on the exact same body of text with both methods, for obvious reasons.

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#265

Post by gnicholas »

nazgulnarsil wrote: post #160
gnicholas wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the positive feedback—glad to hear that it works for you! Follow us on twitter to keep apprised of new content/product integrations. There are a couple deals in the works now.

Oh you're the creator? cool. A word of advice: work out a way to sell this to doctors and other people who need to keep appraised of massive amounts of info. They have the money and the motivation to be your primary customer base.

Thanks for the input—great idea!

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#266

Post by gnicholas »

kdbuck wrote: post #248
hrhmsorm wrote: post #152

Wow! thats so cool!

Very cool. I just wish they called this "The Reading Rainbow" ;).

The original name was Read the Rainbow. Turns out there are still trademarks on Reading Rainbow (also, advisers said the name should communicate the benefit, not the appearance), so we changed it. How funny that your first inclination was the same as mine!

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#267

Post by rokhayakebe »

kingmanaz wrote: post #250
rokhayakebe wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I read at 146 words per minute, and that is average text. I probably read slower when the material is hard. Over the past year or so I went through roughly 90% of Plato's work (like, really), The Quran (partially), On the Nature of Things, Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, Discourses by Epictetus, How to Read by M. Adler, Alchemy of Happiness by Ghazalli, etc.... I also read several short text including James Allen, Xe…

If you're not reading these works purely for edification then I assume you are working through a Great Books curriculum ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_books ). Congratulations. The trouble will soon be finding anyone to with which discuss what you've read, especially if you work in technology where ideas are assumed to have a shelf life. Being well read can be alienating. In terms of increasing reading speed, y…

I am definitely going through the G.B., with other writings from Middle Eastern background. It started when I was researching Islamic & Western texts on a particular subject and similarities. Somewhere along I happened upon Adler's book on How to Read. I agree on having no one to discuss it with, but it's ok, "I am having a discussion with the authors on the margins." If you are going through the list I'll be more than happy to have a long term dialogue (email in profile).

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#268

Post by qu4z-2 »

burgeralarm wrote: post #36

The testing methodology is quite flawed (at least for the reading speed test on the site). It asks you to read a passage with BeeReader to start out. When you're done, you're presented with questions about the passage before reading a non-BeeReader passage. The catch is, you will almost certainly read the second passage slower than the first, since you're now looking to retain information for the questions! The color…

It did tell you it was gonna ask questions. Anecdotally I read the second paragraph faster because I had an idea of the difficulty-level of the questions involved. (ie not very)

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#269

Post by qu4z-2 »

ripter wrote: post #71

I learned to speed read years ago, and this breaks that for me. One of the keys with speed reading is that you don't read every single word. With this I was reading every word. It felt slower and tiring. The test said that it did not improve my reading but didn't say why.

I wonder if the test tells you when you read faster without it. Subjectively I feel that I did, but the test just returned "No improvement with BeeLineReader"

Re: Show HN: Ditch Black Text to Read Faster, Easier

#270

Post by JasonFruit »

swores wrote: post #225
DanBC wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because the King James bible had considerable effort to translate original texts into best possible English, preserving meaning but also creating a suitably "glorious" text. Very many concepts, words, metaphors, etc come from the King James translation. Ignoring any religious stuff - it's a good read. EDIT: corrected my st / king error!

Personally I agree, I love KJV (mainly through choral music written with biblical texts), just wondered whether he was making a subjective point like you are, or whether it was a religious point.

I'm very late to respond, but I wrote what I did as a religious point. After a lot of years of doubt on the matter, I've come to the conclusion that what the Bible contains is critically important truth. I honestly think it fails as literature, because it is incoherent unless comprehended by faith; but it is a source of comfort, encouragement, and guidance to those whom God has freely given faith beforehand.

But if you choose to read it as literature, I certainly won't stop you!

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