ABOUT READSMART

ReadSmart technology is based on the science of how the brain most efficiently processes written words and sentences. Our team of experts in linguistics, psychololgy, neuroscience, and computer science have developed software algorithms to subtly improve the arrangement of text on the printed or digital page. Developed and tested over the past 20 years under the leadership of co-founder Dr. Thomas G. Bever, our technology combines cutting edge software and proven scientific research.

WHAT READSMART DOES

ReadSmart technology is a collection of patented and proprietary software that works with desktop publishing programs such as Adobe InDesign or QuarkXPress to subtly reformat text. ReadSmart makes small alterations to improve the spacing between words, the size of words, and line endings based on the linguistic, psychological, and informational properties of the text. These changes are unobtrusive and most readers will not be aware of them. Although subtle, text that has been transformed using ReadSmart technology provides documented improvements for the reader: reading speed is increased up to 10%, reading comprehension up to 25%, and reading enjoyment up to 40%.

Sample: Declaration of Independence

WHAT READSMART DOES NOT DO

ReadSmart does not change:

• vocabulary or wording – the author’s choice of words is preserved

• word order or grammar – ReadSmart does not rewrite sentences

• document structure – sentences, paragraphs, and other structures are retained

• layout or fonts – designer’s layout and design choices are maintained

THE READSMART INNOVATION

ReadSmart technology is based on decades of peer-reviewed scientific research of our team of scientists and other scientists. The idea of improving text by manually emphasizing the phrases in text has been proven to help readers in many studies.

ReadSmart technology analyzes text and automates this way of formatting text within modern desktop publishing software. Although text transformed using ReadSmart technology looks similar to normal text, the subtle changes to word spacing, text size, and line endings improve reading comprehension by measurably improving eye movements. Good readers naturally have long saccades (rapid eye movements) with few regressions (backtracking to reread).

ReadSmart works by improving the eye movements of poor readers to be like those of good readers. Although ReadSmart benefits all readers, our research demonstrates that it helps poor readers the most and provides extra benefit in distracting contexts. In the busy information age, reading environments are rarely ideal. ReadSmart helps readers understand and retain more of what they read, read it faster, and enjoy it more in the process.

For more information contact us at:
info@readsmart.com, or (520) 795-8100.