Nood Gews for Dyslexic Android Users: There’s an app for that.
Developmental reading disorder occurs when the brain does not properly recognize and process certain symbols. Often referenced with a disarrangement of letters in sentences, it has been estimated to affect 10% of the population at any given time.
Now New Hampshire mobile app designer, Abelardo Gonzalez, has created OpenDyslexic- a free font that can help by using “bottom heavy” letters (pictured below), which are supposedly easier for those with the disorder to read.
Gonzalez says:
“Your brain can sometimes do funny things to letters. OpenDyslexic tries to help prevent some of these things from happening. Letters have heavy weighted bottoms to add a kind of “gravity” to each letter, helping to keep your brain from rotating them around in ways that can make them look like other letters. Consistently weighted bottoms can also help reinforce the line of text. The unique shapes of each letter can help prevent flipping and swapping.”
This font is offered as an alternative to the “Help Method,” in which parents and teachers standby as literary spotters, allowing for assistance upon the safety word, “Help.” This method acts as a gradual ease into reading independence for the child.
While the font is still in the early stages it can be downloaded here for android users.
NATION: What kind of app should be created that would assist you the most in your day to day life?
