A reading toolkit built for people with dyslexia.
ReadEase is an ongoing research project exploring how customizable typography, spacing, and color controls can improve reading comfort. It includes a Chrome extension, an interactive demo, and a browser-based PDF converter — all running locally with no data collection.
What changes
Standard rendering
With ReadEase
Dense text on a white background with tight spacing makes it harder for some readers to track lines and distinguish letters.
Wider spacing, a warm background tint, and a dyslexia-friendly font reduce visual crowding and make lines easier to follow.
What the toolkit offers
Typography & Spacing
Choose from OpenDyslexic, Arial, Verdana, or Comic Sans. Adjust letter spacing, word spacing, and line height to suit your reading style.
Color & Contrast
Switch between cream, yellow, blue, or dark backgrounds. Text color adapts automatically to maintain readable contrast.
Focus Aids
A reading guide bar tracks your position. Optional bionic reading bolds word beginnings. Both can be toggled off.
Grounded in research
Design decisions in ReadEase are informed by published work on dyslexia and accessible typography. The project currently draws on findings from Rello & Baeza-Yates (2013), Schneps et al. (2013), and the British Dyslexia Association style guide, among others.
As we gather more user feedback, we plan to publish our own findings on how individual customization preferences affect reading comfort and comprehension.
See the full research notes1.3x spacing
Increases reading speed for many dyslexic readers.
Rello & Baeza-Yates, 2013
Shorter lines
Reduces visual crowding and improves comprehension.
Schneps et al., 2013
Tinted backgrounds
Cream and soft hues ease visual stress vs. stark white.
British Dyslexia Association
Why this project exists
My brother has dyslexia. Watching him struggle with dense webpages is what started this work. Around 10-15% of people have dyslexia, yet most of the web is still set in tight type on white backgrounds. ReadEase explores whether giving readers direct control over typography, spacing, and color makes a measurable difference — and we are actively collecting data to find out.