Details
Context Final project for M.Des studies
My roleInitiator, product designer & developer
The teamMe & Elron Bucai (Hafonton)
Timeline6 months
Overview
The Bottom Line
newLine is a new digital reading format powered by eye-tracking. It scrolls text in sync with the reader’s gaze, creating a reactive and embodied experience for screens and handheld devices.
Initially developed as my master’s project, newLine is now evolving into a pre-seed edTech startup.
The Challenge
Are we reading—or just consuming?
Digital reading is passive, shallow, and filled with distractions. Most tools (e-readers, summarizers, focus apps) solve fragments, but not the core issue.
- 66%decrease in attention span in the last 20 years
- 40%of Americans can’t read at a normal level
- 50%of 8th graders are not proficient readers (2023)
The Mission
Make Reading Great Again
Build a reading experience that restores depth, focus, and flow—on the devices we already use.
- Line-based format
- Gaze-controlled interaction
- Fully reactive and personalized
UX GOALS
- ▶️ Instant OnboardingJust start reading
- 👁️ Deep InteractionUtilizing a gaze-based interface
- 🧭 Natural NavigationOrientation through long texts
Research
The Blind Spot
A COGNITIVE POINT OF VIEW
Deep research into reading-related cognition, has led to a new design paradigm: What if I displayed only the minimal amount of text necessary for reading at all times? with eye-tracking guiding its progression as the reader, well.. reads?
This led to the idea of a single line of text within a window of 7-10 visible words, that scrolls with the reader's focal point, moving on the horizontal axis of the screen. Could this approach reduce cognitive load, minimize distractions, and offer a more immersive reading experience, while staying within common technical constraints? It felt worth checking out!
USER TESTING
After creating a prototype for my masters' exhibition, I continued to producing deeper user research in partnership with Bezalel's innovation center.
In this test I lead a research that included:
- 15 participantsThat identified as 'troubled readers'
- 2 Main KPIsReading speed and comprehension
- Cross Comparisonof 2 reading methods within the group
- Personal InterviewsIncluding open ended as well as rating questions
I elaborated on this test in a paper written for a conference on higher education - you can READ IT HERE or WATCH THE TALK
Insights
Reading Between the Lines
RESULTS
- Result:Comprehension and speed were comparable to paragraph reading
- Feedback: SplitSome found it straining, others said it felt “natural” and “like flipping through a book”
The interview phase of the test was exciting for me as the initiator of this project, and it revealed some interesting feedback:
- “It bothered me that I couldn’t completely stop the text with my gaze.”
- “I liked that within a second I was able to take control.”
- “I don’t think I would use it for reading — simply because of the strain on the eyes.”
- “There was something very natural about it — more like flipping through a book and less like scrolling, which feels like a very unnatural action.”
While early results show newLine may assist users with specific reading difficulties, further testing is needed to define who benefits most.
Design
Readefining
1. CONCEPTUALIZING
I began creating linear and interactive lo-fi interactions to create a common language with Elron, the developer who I hired to work with me, that built the first version of the project.
2. CORE FEATURES
Impact
Next Steps
After stabilizing the prototype and launching a webcam-based demo, I’m now exploring newLine as an edTech product:
POTENTIAL USES
- Hands-free, adaptive readingfor accessibility needs.
- Engaging digital reading experiencefor students and young readers.
- eReading platformfor recreational readers
You are welcome to test newLine with your own eyes on any desktop computer fit with a webcam.
