Designing a better reading experience with Matter: Incorporating Trust, Prioritization, and Accessibility

Designing a better reading experience with Matter: Incorporating Trust, Prioritization, and Accessibility

Reading online has become a multi-faceted activity, encompassing the selection of what to read, the act of reading itself, and the utilization of acquired knowledge. As avid users of read-it-later apps, my co-founder Rob Mackenzie and I recognized the limitations of the existing platforms. These apps lacked intelligence in areas such as prioritization, resurfacing, and decay. This realization propelled us to create Matter, a platform that aims to enhance the reading experience.

One crucial aspect of deciding what to read is trust. People trust recommendations from other individuals, especially those whom they perceive as credible. Understanding this, we made the conscious decision to elevate writers as first-class citizens on Matter. By highlighting the value of good curation, we enable users to discover hidden gems that might have been overlooked by engagement-based algorithms.

While staying up to date with the latest news is important, we believe that the bias towards new content is too strong. The vast majority of exceptional content ever produced was not written in the past week. Thus, we are committed to rebalancing the focus and ensuring that timeless pieces receive the attention they deserve. In doing so, we aim to deliver relevant and manageable content to our users.

To further enhance the reading experience, we recognized the limitations of traditional email inboxes. Most people aim to quickly skim through their inbox and move on, rather than spending extensive time there. Additionally, email inboxes lack features such as highlighting and annotation, which are essential for active readers. Thus, we set out to design a solution that offers both convenience and functionality. By incorporating highly reliable parsing techniques, including natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision, we strive to provide an optimal user experience.

Another significant shift in consumer behavior is the increasing popularity of audio consumption. With the rise of convenient audio hardware, people are embracing this mode of information intake. Acknowledging this trend, we introduced "audio highlights" on Matter. Users can now highlight content while listening, without the need to open their phones. By triple-tapping Airpods or pressing both volume buttons simultaneously, users can create audio highlights seamlessly.

Additionally, we have implemented innovative features such as minimaps, inspired by video games and code editors. By incorporating a two-finger tap gesture, users can access a miniaturized version of an article. This allows for quick scanning of headers and easy navigation. We believe this feature will be particularly useful on desktop web platforms.

At the core of our user base are "active" readers, individuals who are intentional about their reading habits and actively curate their information diets. These readers often have preferred writers and subscribe to newsletters, seeking out knowledge from diverse sources. Our ultimate goal is to increase the return on investment (ROI) of reading for these users. We want to provide them with more than just information; we want to offer insights, knowledge, and a sense of thrill.

In conclusion, designing a better reading experience involves several crucial elements. By incorporating trust through elevating writers, prioritization through rebalancing the focus on new versus timeless content, and accessibility through innovative features like audio highlights and minimaps, Matter strives to enhance the reading experience for active readers. To further improve your own reading experience, here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Prioritize quality over quantity: Instead of being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new content, focus on discovering high-quality, timeless pieces that offer valuable insights.

2. Embrace different modes of consumption: Explore audio formats and leverage innovative features that allow for seamless integration of audio highlights into your reading routine.

3. Curate your information diet: Actively seek out trusted writers, subscribe to newsletters, and frequent lesser-known blogs to diversify your sources of knowledge.

By implementing these strategies, you can maximize the ROI of your reading time, gaining greater insights and knowledge with each session. Remember, the act of reading is not just about acquiring information; it's about immersing yourself in a world of ideas and experiences.