Bionic Reading
Learning and science
reading technique
SHOW HN2022
410points
271comments
#84of 2,570 in 2022
Top 4%of 2022 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
35 positive, 63 neutral or asking, 5 mixed, 56 critical, out of 159 comments about the project. Thread score -0.12.
Idea: 17 for, 22 againstPerformance: 7 for, 8 againstDesign: 2 for, 12 againstExecution: 5 for, 5 againstDocs: 0 for, 4 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Makes text clearer and easier to take in for some readers
From 2 comments
I'm amazed at how much clearer the bionic-highlighted text is. For me the big difference was in first-pass comprehension, not speed. The website needs more attention to detail,…
dotancohen on HNI’ve used both Bionic Reading while on Reeder, and the Open Dyslexic font while on Kindle, for several years to similar effect. My personal finding is that it makes the work my…
Dangeranger on HN
Helpful for dyslexic readers according to maker feedback
From 1 comment
Hi cardamomo I understand your skepticism and thank you for your criticism. What you see so far from Bionic Reading is the base. Of course, children should still learn to read.…
renato_casutt on HN
Objections
No evidence of speed gains; some readers found it slower or distracting
From 4 comments
Are there any actual studies on the gained speed being done by Independent scientists? I could not finde anything on their (quite beautifully done) marketing/landing page. I see…
sdoering on HNActually this made it harder for me to read. The text felt "bumpy", unlike normal in text where it felt smoother and flowing. Maybe it's just a matter of habit. Anyways, I don't…
blackbear_ on HNI couldn't find anyone else with my experience: No change at all. I wasn't faster or slower on either side, as far as I could tell.
wccrawford on HNFor me at least, it made little difference. My brain refused to ignore the parts that aren't boldened. I think what I don't understand is the concept: "and so just a few letters…
manbash on HN
Patents and trademarks make it look like a royalty-focused business
From 2 comments
This does indeed seem to work for me, but the repeated emphasis on the patents and trademarks makes me suspicious. It looks like a company who cares much more about patent…
pxeger1 on HNThe rules implemented are very simple (taken from the patent application [1], the exact numbers are configurable). ``` If there are <= 3 letters, one letter is bold. If there are…
red0point on HN
Scientific claims are unpublished
From 3 comments
can you share some kind of science that it works?
qnsi on HNAre there any actual studies on the gained speed being done by Independent scientists? I could not finde anything on their (quite beautifully done) marketing/landing page. I see…
sdoering on HNWe have just completed the preliminary study but I cannot publish any results yet. And you are right, of course. It does not help everyone. That's the way it is. But there is a…
renato_casutt on HN
Similar technique already existed (BeeLine, Spritz, craftworks)
From 3 comments
For everyone who think this is new stuff: It is not new. There was another company in the German speaking space, Vienna more exactly, see craftworks.at, that offered almost the…
irutiw22 on HNThis reminds me of BeeLine Reader: https://www.beelinereader.com/
folli on HNThere is a similar technology that flashes the words in place as you read. I remember it making the rounds a few years ago. https://spritz.com/
doctoboggan on HN
Requests
Publish the study results
From 2 comments
We have just finished a study. The publication still needs some time. But I can already say in advance that 25% of the subjects get great benefits in the method. My finding…
renato_casutt on HNWe have just completed the preliminary study but I cannot publish any results yet. And you are right, of course. It does not help everyone. That's the way it is. But there is a…
renato_casutt on HN
Questions
Is there independent scientific evidence of faster reading?
From 2 comments
can you share some kind of science that it works?
qnsi on HNAre there any actual studies on the gained speed being done by Independent scientists? I could not finde anything on their (quite beautifully done) marketing/landing page. I see…
sdoering on HN
Why are the rules patented rather than published?
From 2 comments
The rules implemented are very simple (taken from the patent application [1], the exact numbers are configurable). ``` If there are <= 3 letters, one letter is bold. If there are…
red0point on HNWhy are you patenting ~"Highlight the first half of a printed word", Renato? Do you think that is patent material?
mdp2021 on HN
Alternatives named
BeeLine Reader
From 2 comments
This reminds me of BeeLine Reader: https://www.beelinereader.com/
folli on HNGreat work, congrats! Another app Beeline Reader[0] seems a lot similar to this. It was launched many years ago I suppose. All the best with the product! [0]…
enduku on HN
Spritz
From 2 comments
There is a similar technology that flashes the words in place as you read. I remember it making the rounds a few years ago. https://spritz.com/
doctoboggan on HNYes, you are right. The problem with Spritz is that you lose the overview of the text and therefore you can't optimally absorb the context of the content. Some users have already…
renato_casutt on HN
Edge reader mode
From 1 comment
I normally have to make a conscious effort to speed read so this is intriguing. I’ve had a lot of success with Edge’s reader mode with verbs and nouns highlighted in different…
thom on HN