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<\/figure><\/li><\/ul>Source: Microsoft Education<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n As designers we are constantly practicing typography skills. Legibility, proper kerning, and tracking are even more essential when designing for literacy purposes. Here are just a few examples of research the company conducted which stresses the importance of using these design principles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\nFont Spacing: \u201cFindings point to a subtype of dyslexia involving elevated crowding and demonstrate that individuals benefit from interventions personalized to their specific impairments.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\nLine Length: \u201c27% increase in reading speed when using short line lengths\u201d\u00a0<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\nSitka Font: \u201cDuring the typeface’s development, we tested how well people could read each of the letters in the typeface, and used the test results to inform design decisions\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Readers across the world (literally, they offer translation in 60 different languages) now have the ability to read outloud to themselves, change the color of the page, see syllable breaks, and so many other things that make it easier to read and write. Whether students have learning disabilities or not, the tool breaks many pre-existing barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Overall, when actually building this literacy feature, Microsoft did a spectacular job of making sure that it was inclusive. They built it as an extension on their Office platform so that it can be fully integrated with all of their other applications, such as Word or Powerpoint. They also recognized that many schools primarily use Google and made sure that the extension would be compatible with Google accounts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I felt that Immersive Reader was an example of how others can make design more accessible to all. It\u2019s obviously not perfect, but it doesn’t try to fix the individual like many other products out there. Instead it attempts to increase comprehension for all students which greatly helps those who struggle with learning disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, there\u2019s always limitations. Designing these tools requires time, a lot of money, and a good amount of people. But, if companies like Microsoft, who have the resources to fund these projects continue to take a lead, our education systems have the potential to change and be more accessible to all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Sources: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/education.microsoft.com\/en-us\/resource\/9786fb2a<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/news.microsoft.com\/features\/winning-hackathon-project-is-now-helping-millions-of-people-worldwide-to-read-and-write\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
https:\/\/news.microsoft.com\/features\/microsoft-hackathon-2015-winner-extends-onenote-to-improve-learning-outcomes-for-students\/<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n