Learn about some of the tensions and tradeoffs related to text layout, as well as some digital-first technologies aiming to assist with visual tracking for readers of all kinds.

1. Text Accessibility in
a Mobile World
Nick Lum
CEO, BeeLine Reader

2. Affected Groups
Why Mobile Matters
Prior Research
New Technologies
Topics

3. Low Vision
Binocular Vision
ADHD
Dyslexia
ESL
TBI
Affected Groups

4. 1. mobile is everywhere.
2. smaller, high-res screens
3. reading in motion
4. fewer accessibility options*
Why Mobile Matters

5. Good News!
visual tracking on mobile is more
challenging for all types of readers

7. Line spacing
Line length
Prior Research

8. 1.2x -1.4x
≤ 70 chars
Prior Research

9. Line spacing
If line spacing is too tight, then text is
difficult to read, even for readers with good
vision and no cognitive, neurological, or
other challenges. This is especially true on
mobile, where paragraphs tend to be “taller”
as opposed to “wider.”
Prior Research

10. If line spacing is exaggerated, paragraphs
will be difficult to read because our eyes are
used to tracking at a certain angle when
moving from right to left. When the spacing
is increased too much, the expected angle
is not correct. Also, too much scrolling!
Prior Research

11. When lines are too long, the distance to travel during a “return sweep” is very long,
which makes this task difficult. Researchers studied this problem in the past, as
monitors grew larger and larger. Because mobile devices have small screens, we
rarely have issues with lines being too wide on these devices.
Prior Research
Line length

12. Having short
lines is helpful
in reducing the
distance of
each return
sweep, but it
makes
reading on
mobile
burdensome
because it
requires
frequent
scrolling
Prior Research
Line length

13. Word Highlighting
Rapid Serial Visual Presentation
Color-Assisted Visual Tracking
Mobile Browsers with Extensions
New Technologies

14. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

15. Highlighting
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.

16. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

17. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

18. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

19. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

20. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

21. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

22. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

23. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

24. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

25. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

26. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

27. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

28. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

29. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

30. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

31. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

32. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

33. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

34. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

35. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

36. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

37. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

38. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

39. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

40. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

41. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

42. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

43. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

44. Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.
Highlighting

45. 20% 3%
parafovea
periphery
fovea

46. Word Flashing
Here’s
to
the
crazy
ones.
The
misfits.
The
rebels.
The
troublemakers.

47. BeeLine Reader
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The
round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re
not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote
them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you
can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human
race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius.
Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world,
are the ones who do.

48. New Mobile Browsers
Kiwi (Android) Insight (iOS)

50. Camera-linked Text Enhancement?
Folding/Collapsible Screens?
Virtual/Augmented Reality?
The Future

51. Questions & Comments
@NickLum
nick@BeeLineReader.com