OpenDyslexic

From HandWiki

OpenDyslexic is a free typeface and font designed to mitigate some of the common reading errors caused by dyslexia. The typeface was created by Abbie Gonzalez, who released it through an open-source license.[1][2]

Like many dyslexia-intervention typefaces, most notably Dyslexie, OpenDyslexic adds to dyslexia research and is a reading aid. It is not a cure for dyslexia.[3] The typeface includes regular, bold, italic, bold-italic, and monospaced font styles. The benefit has been questioned in scientific studies.[4]

In 2012, Gonzalez explained their motivation to the BBC: "I had seen similar fonts, but at the time they were completely unaffordable and so impractical as far as costs go."[5]

Integration

The typeface is an optional choice on many websites and formats, including Wikipedia,[lower-alpha 1] Instapaper,[5] Kobo eReader,[6] Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, a few children's books,[7][8] and at least one imprint of classic literature.[9]

There is also a Google Chrome extension available,[2][10][11] which was developed by Abbie Gonzalez and Robert James Gabriel.[2][12] It is also part of the "dyslexia-friendly mode" in Oswald Foundation's web accessibility products.[13]

Scientific studies

Two small studies have investigated the effect of specialized fonts used with students with dyslexia. Rello and Baeza-Yates (2013) measured eye-tracking recordings of Spanish readers (aged 11–50) with dyslexia and found that OpenDyslexic did not significantly improve reading time nor shorten eye fixation.[14] In her master's thesis, Leeuw (2010) compared Arial and Dyslexie with 21 Dutch students with dyslexia and found Dyslexie did not lead to faster reading, but may help with some dyslexic-related errors.[15]

In its Dyslexia Style Guide, the British Dyslexia Association recommends using sans-serif fonts "such as Arial and Comic Sans", where letters can appear less crowded. As alternatives, it recommends Verdana, Tahoma, Century Gothic, Trebuchet, Calibri, and Open Sans.[16]

There are other typefaces and fonts that have been linked to benefits for people with dyslexia including: BBC Reith, Comic Sans, Dyslexie, FS Me, Sassoon and Sylexiad.[17][18][19]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ In the Wikipedia skin introduced in 2023, OpenDyslexic can be used by clicking the "n languages" button in the upper-right of the page, clicking the gear icon, clicking the "Fonts" button, checking the "Download fonts when needed" box, and selecting "OpenDyslexic".

References

  1. ↑ Jason, Mick. "First Free Digital Font Optimized for Dyslexics although the requirements are for a mixture of Dyslexia which is a phonic cognitive condition and Irlen Syndrome which is a visual cognitive condition the traits of which can often be experienced by dyslexics Arrives". DailyTech.com. http://www.dailytech.com/First+Free+Digital+Font+Optimized+for+Dyslexics+Arrives/article27801.htm. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "OpenDyslexic font makes it easy to read anywhere". 2012-10-02. https://www.geek.com/geek-cetera/opendyslexic-font-makes-it-easy-to-read-anywhere-1519623/. 
  3. ↑ Ross, Selena (17 October 2012). "New Font Helps Dyslexics Read Clearly". Associated Students, UC Santa Barbara. http://thebottomline.as.ucsb.edu/2012/10/new-font-helps-dyslexics-read-clearly. 
  4. ↑ Wery, Jessica J.; Diliberto, Jennifer A. (18 March 2016). "The effect of a specialized dyslexia font, OpenDyslexic, on reading rate and accuracy". Annals of Dyslexia (Springer US) 67 (2): 114–127. doi:10.1007/s11881-016-0127-1. PMID 26993270. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kelion, Leo (2012-09-26). "OpenDyslexic font gains ground with help of Instapaper". BBC News.. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-19734341. 
  6. ↑ Gonzalez, Abbie. "Kobo Mini, Glo, Aura HD". OpenDyslexic. http://opendyslexic.org/2013/03/kobo-mini-and-glo/. 
  7. ↑ Gonzalez, Abbie. "Zack & Zoey's Alien Apocalypse: Alien Busting Ninja Adventure". OpenDyslexic. http://opendyslexic.org/2013/08/zack-zoeys-alien-apocalypse-alien-busting-ninja-adventure/. 
  8. ↑ Gonzalez, Abbie. "The Swamp Man, by Shoo Rayner". OpenDyslexic. http://opendyslexic.org/2013/07/the-swamp-man-by-shoo-rayner/. 
  9. ↑ "Strawberry Classics". http://www.folktal.es/strawberry-classics.html. 
  10. ↑ "OpenDyslexic". https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/opendyslexic/cdnapgfjopgaggbmfgbiinmmbdcglnam?hl=en. 
  11. ↑ "Which Font is Best For Dyslexic Users? The Science Reviewed". https://s-e-o.org/which-font-is-best-for-dyslexic-users-the-science-reviewed/. 
  12. ↑ "antijingoist/opendyslexic-chrome". https://github.com/antijingoist/opendyslexic-chrome/graphs/contributors. 
  13. ↑ "Valmiki - Oswald Foundation". https://oswald.foundation/valmiki. 
  14. ↑ Rello, L.; Baeza-Yates, R. (2013). "Good fonts for dyslexia". ACM. p. 14. 
  15. ↑ Leeuw, Renske de (December 2010). Special font for dyslexia? (MA thesis). University of Twente. Archived from the original on 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2015-05-07.
  16. ↑ British Dyslexia Association (2023). "Dyslexia Style Guide". https://cdn.bdadyslexia.org.uk/uploads/documents/Advice/style-guide/BDA-Style-Guide-2023.pdf?v=1680514568. 
  17. ↑ Gray, Richard. "The typeface that helps dyslexics". https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20171204-the-typeface-that-helps-dyslexics-read. 
  18. ↑ Dawood, Sarah (May 22, 2018). "Designing for dyslexia: a style guide to make reading easy for everyone". https://www.designweek.co.uk/issues/21-27-may-2018/designing-dyslexia-style-guide-make-reading-easy-everyone/. 
  19. ↑ British Dyslexia Association (August 2015). "Typefaces for dyslexia". https://bdatech.org/what-technology/typefaces-for-dyslexia/. 




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