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Dutch researcher designs distinct characters into "Dyslexie" to make it more difficult for dyslexics to rotate, swap and mirror letters and numbers
October 26, 2011 | 32
Unlike other readers, dyslexics have a tendency to rotate, swap and mirror letters, making it difficult for them to comprehend what they’re reading....[More]
The Dyslexie font (in blue), compared with Arial (in black). For Dyslexie, Boer enlarged the openings of various letters, such as "a" and "c," to make them more distinguishable from one another....[More]
Boer increased the boldness of letters at their bases, to make them appear weighted, causing readers' brains to know not to flip them upside down, as can occur with "p" and "d." Here Dyslexie (in blue) is once again compared with Arial (black)....[More]
Boer also increased the length of "the tail" of other letters, like the "g" and y." Here the Dyslexie font (in blue) is compared with Lucida Calligraphy (black).
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When a common font such as Helvetica (in red) is placed over Dyslexie (blue), the differences become even more apparent.
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32 Comments
Add CommentHas anyone else ever approached dyslexia in this manner? It is new to me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSounds very promising ...
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat a disappointment this article is.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have been following this story for several months and the justification for the hype for this typeface is very, very weak.
The "research" consisted of 21 "dyslexic" college and graduate students, compared to 22 "normal reading" students.
The master's thesis is silent on how the researcher validated the participants' dyslexia diagnosis. The university is in Holland -- how does the Dutch educational establishment test for dyslexia?
The master's thesis research also only compared the new font, Dislexie, to one other font, Ariel.
So:
Very small number of subjects.
No independent validation of participants' dyslexia diagnosis.
No replication of the reading accuracy study by an independent researcher.
No cross-comparison with any font other than Ariel.
No subjects younger than 19 years old (such as earlier readers, ages say 7 to 10)
And here it is being promoted on Scientific American. The type designer must be ecstatic -- this will surely be a boost for sales of this font (which I believe is about $1,200 for schools to purchase).
I expect more rigor from Scientific American on reporting on research.
I read the article in the Dyslexie font and found it much simpler to read. I had to laugh a little with pleasure at how smooth it felt as I quickly read through it. Now, I've never been diagnosed with dyslexia, but reading has always been one of my weakest skills. I had been an avid reader as a kid and young adult, but reading has always been a little cumbersome and uncomfortable for anything beyond fiction. It was a frustrating experience with more technical material.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo, I wonder. Is this Dyslexie font easier for everyone? Does it improve comprehension for all readers or only those with dyslexia?
Very interesting. I too found the PDF much easier to read. I find the designers need to profit from the new typeface unfortunate. As a designer, I understand the want to profit from the situation, but I'm not sure that 69 euros (or 445 as a designer) and a CD in the mail is the right way to go about distributing it to the public.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI find it undermines the project and certainly this article.
It was easier for me to read too. I'm also not dyslexic, but the spacing between words was very easy on my 41 year old eyes.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere are many fonts that would be easier for dyslexics (and the rest of us) to read. However, it is great that someone finally put effort into making the letters that usually trouble dyslexics more discernible.
It's a great start. I hope he can sell it to e-book reader makers and get it on the kindle and other such devices.
I agree with everything that lizditz says.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBut I got a great pleasure from reading the pdf article in the font. I'm not dyslexic and am a rapid reader, so it must just make it easier perhaps?
I was sceptical but I find it difficult to describe the pleasure the simple act of reading gave me.
Anybody else the same?
This font is incredibly easy to read. I have MS and due to optic neuritis have diplopia, simply known as double vision. The reality is that the eyes cannot simultaneously focus on a single line of text. This has rendered me unable to read typed matter and caused me to resort to audio for written material. As a business executive, it contributed to my inability to perform an essential function of my profession, as well as deprived me of the ultimate enjoyment of reading paper text. Don't get me wrong - - I listen to audiobooks, podcasts and text readers all day. To think something as simple as a different typeface could aid in restoring the ability to read to the disable is spectacular.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this"Not invented here 'problem'?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisKinesthetic writing, writing with no visual imput, but with motor memory is the most efficient type of writing for any human. When you close your eyes and write, if the writing is similar in quality, spacing and formation you have kinesthetic sense. This sense skill is also use in such daily tasks as sports performance, keyboarding, walking up and down stairs, driving etc where our bodys learn and our mind can be relaxed and automatically connected to what we are performing without much work. So dyslexics often have visual stress so that affects visual processing. Try writing on different colored sheets and see if one color produces more accurate writing then another. Try writing with florescent lighting turned off and only sunlight. Try writing with lower light levels and positioning the person so their posture is stable and upright and their eyes are stable and do not have to move near and far looking and copying but copy up close. See if more accurate. Irlen Spectral filters worn as glasses has made a huge positive difference in minimizing or eliminating the visual distortions and enable the person to reading with greater fluency, accuracy, comfort, etc immediately. see www.irlen.com for research on this. See Handwriting without Tears for a kinesthetic handwriting program that works. See www.aotss.com for training seminars on the above.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI don't really think that it's reasonable for lizditz to expect that an overview article would recount the rigor (if indeed there was rigor) of the master's essay. Is it reasonable to expect a masters thesis to be a huge experiment? Rigoros, yes, but with as many variables as lizditz wants? This is reported as preliminary work with some promise.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI also found it easy to read, and I wish it were available in my computer as a font.
I actually found the font difficult to read. In particular I read the "f" as a "t" a couple of times before I adjusted.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWith some text I have a bit of dyslexia, which I have always attributed to (and continue to)my nystagmus (an uncontrolled eye oscillation). I believe the PDF example of the Dyslexie font was easier for me to read.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI have never been diagnose with dislexia (or had I ever thought I was under that side of the spectrum), however I found this new font a lot easier to read than any other I have in my computer.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'll get myself checked, of course. But, truth be told: the font has some positive effects on some people, that's undeniable.
Hopefully, it's that kind of thing that aid people with the disability, and enhances the quality of those without the it.
I found the font easier to read than Ariel, to which it was being compared. However, the alternative font for the article was Times New Roman which was even easier to read. Scientific Americans uses sans-serif fonts sparingly. On this page, they indicate important items and they give directions. They are not used as part of articles for continuous reading such as the main article or readers' comments.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDyslexics need a serif font with letters made so they will not get confused.
I too suffer from dyslexia. After reading the article (on November 1, 2011) I went to Christian Boer's website to purchase the font. My best estimate is that it would cost $94.00 US Dollars. This would seem a rather exorbitant price for a single font. It would seem that the font's designer is under the impression that anyone who owns a computer has enough money to afford the font. For a person who suffers from dyslexia himself, Mr. Boer would make reading easier for others something of an extravagant luxury. Sorry, but he ought to be ashamed of himself.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI am dyslexic. Several years ago, I suffered a closed head trauma. It took a very long time to learn to read and write again and even now, I have trouble with some words and letters. Right now tears are streaming down my face because I had no trouble reading the dyslexie font. For the first time in my life (I am 60) reading was easy for me.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis visual explanation of dyslexia is empirically incorrect, based on the last 50 years of research in learning disabilities. Contrary to pop culture, dyslexia is not due to visual reversals or "floating letters," but is instead a LANGUAGE-BASED disorder due to poor pairing of the phonetic (sound) code with letters. The best predictors of this learning disability that affects 1 in 20 kids in a classroom are phonological awareness and rapid naming, not the visual system. Our field has worked SO hard to counter this myth, and it is so disappointing to see my favorite publication, Scientific American MIND, not do their background research. Furthermore, this overly simplistic "cure" of merely change a font is demeaning to the years of hard work from children I see who truly overcome the disorder.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIntriguing idea. Love to see if it helps, but at the current price, for a five-year license, it's a little too dear for me. Pity.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI, for one, am thrilled with this article as I am very dyslexic and for the first time in my life I could read in a relaxed easy flowing manner. The letters didn't float and jockey for position. I actually couldn't believe it. This speed kept up with my intake ability meaning I wasn't guessing what was coming I was flying over the lines of text as I imagine you do. I am a screenwriter and story editor and I edit novels. S l o w l y! Part of my skill with novels is that I read so slowly I find the errors regular editors leave behind. I must read every word and almost every letter. The joke among my friends is that when I buy a novel I get my money's worth. They read it in a couple of days and it takes me perhaps months. But I love the printed word even if I can't see it as easily as you, so I read in all aspects of my life. Just wanted to speak here from the most wonderful experience of reading that article in the weighted font. Wish it had been there when I was in grade 1. The word "dog" was on the blackboard and I was asked to read it. I saw, "odg," "god," "dgo" and at some point I couldn't tell if there were 3 or 2 letters. With the letters weighted and clarified, I do believe it would have saved me from one of my most embarrassing moments and completely change my educational experience. Just thoughts!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisPerhaps a less stupidly out of date language and alphabet would be an even better tool to reduce dyslexia?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisFor those who are bemoaning the "lack of research" on this font, lighten up. It's a font, it's not a Leukemia treatment. I bought the font for personal use yesterday. I find the font very easy to read and I'm not dyslexic. (you can also set Firefox to render all websites in Dyslexie--Wikipedia becomes so easy to read)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI sent three identical PDF's--one in Helvetica, one in Times New Roman and one Dyslexie to my two profoundly dyslexic siblings. They called me immediately and said they couldn't believe how much easier it was to read--"ten times easier and nothing is 'jumping'". Yes, I know this is not "scientific" research, but it works for my family and $90 per computer is chump change when it can affect someone's life so remarkably. Regarding the price? Good for the designers! They came up with a product that they worked long and hard developing and can now profit from their labors. Some people think everything should be free. Try suggesting that to the dealer when you make your next car purchase. I hope this young Dutch guy gets rich. I sent him a note this morning to talk with the Amazon Kindle people--if it is correct that one in five Americans has some level of dyslexia, they could increase market share by adding this font.
I'm with those who are believe the "proof is in the pudding". It works--with the dyslexics commenting on this article and with my family (and countless others commenting on line). I'm glad they didn't wait for "rigorous study" to make it "worthy" of Scientific American.
It's a font.
Reading the heading I thought it was serendipitous, as it 10 years today that I was bitten by an Eastern Brown snake the second most venomous snake in the world, which has left me with a number of neuro-muscular problems, one of which causes the nine eye muscles to continually cramp while I read, write, and use the computer, which as a graphic designer causes me no end of problems. (I live in South East Queensland, Australia.)
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSo it was with great eagerness I read the article in the font, only to find like therealadam, that it was even harder than normal. I have over 23,000 fonts on hand and for my purposes, I am yet to find a better font than Times Roman to read in,(which gratefully Sci-Am uses).
As for the cost of the font, I find it quite expensive, given there are alternatives, and that this font was designed for a specific disability group, with whom the designer belongs. Compared to market prices of fonts in general this font is expensive, to me this designer saw a niche and used Sci-Am to promote his over priced product.
I went to his website to obtain further information regarding licensing but left asking more questions than when I started, as there is no link to license information, only that it is for single site. So if Boathead is right and it is only a five year license which in the industry is virtually unheard of at any cost is too much! Consider the cost between families, if you create a letter to your loved one in this font and send it them, under certain conditions of licenses unless they have the font they may not be able to read it. Now consider a family such as Patpom who have numerous members who suffer, the cost has just become prohibitive.
Don't get me wrong I applaud Boer and his two years of study and work to come up with this font, but as I have said it is not the only one available and it does require more research before it can be commended as a general breakthrough, and I think Sci-Am should show more propensity towards reporting rather than allowing free publicity.
A similar font called Lexia Readable is available for free (for personal use) at the Dyslexia the Gift web site at http://www.dyslexia.com/customize.htm or from the designer's web site at http://www.k-type.com/
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis font has been available since 2004 and was created by Keith Bates based on a similar rational and considerations as Christian Boer has expressed. The difference is that Mr. Bates chose to distribute his font freely as well as making it available for use web sites geared to dyslexic users.
Users of the dyslexia.com web site can choose among font sites for viewing, including the Lexia type face as well as a number of other options.
I am dyslexic and have only seriously begun to read after receiving a Kindle. I find the sans serif fonts, low reflectivity of the device, the fact that i can make the fonts the size i need, and the contrast level between the font and background all work to make it possible for me to read. I tried comparing three fonts in Word against each other to see if i noticed anything helping me: Chalkboard, Comic Sans, and Helvetica (the sans font or equiv. used in the Kindle). I chose Chalkboard and Comic Sans because they are very similar to the Dyslexie font suggested by the author of this paper, and, because my attempt to read the Dyslexie font at their site really didn't work well for me. My experience with these fonts that match or exceed the Dyslexie font capability lead me to believe that Dyslexie simply isn't worth any more than Chalkboard or Cosmic Sans, and while i like to use Cosmic Sans, Helvetica or Ariel or equiv. is still the best choice for someone me. Also, if the font on the Dyslexie site and the Dyslexie PDF is actually Dyslexie, then for me it is worse than Chalkboard, Cosmic Sans, or Helvetica. Obviously reading problems aren't that nicely packed into a single problem like "b", "d", "q" confusion, so your mileage may vary, but based on my comparison and reading the dyslexie font on their site and PDF, i think the dyslexie offer is not a win for dyslexics. I think Scientific American should have thought this one through a little harder rather than providing a sales pitch for the Dyslexie company.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThanks for raising this practical alternative.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLizditz, I fully understand your point... but your heart is pumping piss. Use your common sence, and do your own degree.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe common reader finds a positive aspect of this new font or my a-- is sucking wind. -Robert
I agree with arotheram. I don't think their marketing will be very successful. But it's a good start. I think we'll see more of this, or at least I hope so.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSpeaking of rigor, the font is "Arial", not "Ariel" as you have referenced it.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAt http://opendyslexic.org you can download a very similar typeface for free. It's accessible in Word and PrintShop for Mac (in my own experience) and no doubt more.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI don't think you quite understand that all science isn't groundbreaking. You don't automatically get peer reviewed papers published for every study you do. This is simply a launching ground, and should be applauded. If further study finds this doesn't help, then so be it, but stop being a cynic and let the scientific process play out.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHoly... yeah, I don't have dyslexia either, and in fact am an exceptionally fast reader. But then I read the article in Dyslexie and I felt my eyes were going to run away from me I was able to read so fast.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf this font wasn't so expensive, I'd buy it for myself. This is what happens when someone designs for usability instead of aesthetics... if only more things were done that way.