Designing a Better Reading Experience with Matter: Incorporating Trust, Prioritization, and Immortality

Designing a Better Reading Experience with Matter: Incorporating Trust, Prioritization, and Immortality

In the age of digital information, reading online has become a multi-faceted activity. It encompasses not only the act of reading itself but also the process of selecting what to read and what to do with the knowledge gained afterwards. As avid users of read-it-later apps, my co-founder Rob Mackenzie and I recognized that the first generation of these apps lacked certain features that could enhance the reading experience. They were missing smarts in terms of prioritization, resurfacing, and decay. This realization led us to create Matter, a read-it-later app that aims to address these shortcomings.

One of the key insights we gained from our own experience as users was the importance of trust when it comes to deciding what to read. People inherently trust other people, and we wanted to incorporate this trust factor into our app. Thus, we made the conscious decision to elevate writers as first-class citizens in our system. By curating content and highlighting the work of talented writers, we provide users with a valuable resource for discovering hidden gems that might otherwise be overlooked by engagement-based algorithms.

While staying up-to-date with the latest news and trends is important, we also believe that the bias towards new content is too strong. In fact, some of the most brilliant pieces of writing and production were not created in the past week. Therefore, we designed Matter to serve as a counterweight to this bias, offering a space where users can discover and engage with timeless content.

However, delivering relevant and manageable content is not without its challenges. The design space for creating a better reading experience is vast, but it is also an exciting problem to tackle. One area we have focused on is transforming the email inbox into a more reader-friendly environment. We recognized that most people want to breeze through their inbox quickly, so we incorporated features like highlighting and annotation directly within the app. Additionally, we have been working on highly reliable parsing techniques, such as natural language processing and computer vision, to enhance the user experience.

Another significant shift in consumer behavior is the rise of audio consumption. With the increasing convenience of hardware, more and more people are turning to audio as their preferred mode of consuming information. To cater to this trend, we introduced a feature called "audio highlights" that allows users to highlight passages while listening to content. By triple-tapping their Airpods or pressing both volume buttons simultaneously, users can create audio highlights without the need to open their phones.

In terms of user interface, we have taken inspiration from video games and code editors to create a feature called "minimaps." By two-finger tapping an article, users are presented with a miniaturized version that allows them to scan headers and navigate quickly. This feature has proven to be particularly useful on mobile devices, and we believe it will be even more impressive on desktop web.

Our core users, whom we refer to as "active" readers, are individuals who not only consume a significant amount of content but also curate their information diets intentionally. They have favorite writers, subscribe to newsletters, and frequent obscure blogs. Our goal with Matter is to increase the return on investment (ROI) of reading for these active readers. We strive to help them gain more insight, knowledge, and even thrill from the time they invest in reading.

Looking ahead, our vision for the future of reading goes beyond just enhancing the reading experience. We aim to capture the underlying worldviews of brilliant minds and make them accessible through our app. Steve Jobs once expressed his hope for the day when we could capture the essence of geniuses in a computer and interact with them. While we are still far from achieving this level of immortality, it is a vision that drives us to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible with Matter.

In conclusion, designing a better reading experience with Matter involves incorporating trust, prioritization, and the potential for immortality. By elevating writers, curating content, and providing features that enhance the reading process, we strive to create an app that not only helps users discover valuable knowledge but also enables them to engage with it in meaningful ways. To make the most of your 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 seeking out high-quality writing that stands the test of time. Don't be afraid to explore obscure blogs and newsletters for hidden gems.

2. Embrace audio consumption: Take advantage of the convenience of audio to consume content while on the go. Use features like audio highlights to make the most of your listening experience and retain key insights.

3. Engage actively with your reading material: Be intentional about what you read and make an effort to curate your information diet. Seek out writers and newsletters that resonate with your interests and actively participate in discussions around the content you consume.

By following these actionable advice, you can make the most of your reading experience with Matter and unlock the full potential of the knowledge you acquire. Happy reading!