Bionic Reading: A solution for Neurodivergent Audiences?

Bionic reading is, simply put, a concept to demonstrate the aim of promoting reading and comprehension of textual content in a ‘noisy’ world. This form of reading assists neurodivergent readers to more efficiently digest content.

How does bionic reading work?

Bionic reading works by bolding the first few letters of a word, making it easier to glide through text and stay focused.

See the below examples of text as normal, and text with the Bionic Reading mode enabled.

Normal reading mode:

“Bionic Reading is a new method facilitating the reading process by guiding the eyes through text with artificial fixation points. As a result, the reader is only focusing on the highlighted initial letters and lets the brain center complete the word. In a digital world dominated by shallow forms of reading, Bionic Reading aims to encourage a more in-depth reading and understanding of written content.”

Bionic Reading mode:

“Bionic Reading is a new method facilitating the reading process by guiding the eyes through text with artificial fixation points. As a result, the reader is only focusing on the highlighted initial letters and lets the brain center complete the word. In a digital world dominated by shallow forms of reading, Bionic Reading aims to encourage a more in-depth reading and understanding of written content.”

It’s great to see data visualisation artists innovating to make large amounts of information easily accessible and digestible for a wide array of readers. With web accessibility becoming more and more of a central focus, Bionic Reading is one example of how designers can make content more accessible to neurodiverse readers.

FAQs

1. What is bionic reading? Bionic reading is a method that highlights the initial letters of words to aid reading and comprehension, particularly beneficial for neurodivergent readers.
2. How does bionic reading work? By bolding the first few letters of a word, bionic reading guides the eyes through text, helping readers stay focused and complete the words effortlessly.
3. Who can benefit from bionic reading? Bionic reading is especially helpful for neurodivergent individuals, such as those with dyslexia or ADHD, but can enhance reading for anyone seeking better focus and comprehension.
4. Does bionic reading promote in-depth reading? Yes, one of its main goals is to encourage more profound understanding of written content, fostering a more engaged reading experience in our fast-paced digital world.