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Reading Aids

Reading Guide, Focus Mode, Reading Progress, and Magnifying Lens for comfortable reading.

What’s in This Section

Reading Aids help you track where you are on the page, maintain focus, and see content more clearly. These tools are especially helpful for long documents, dense text, or when distractions make it hard to keep your place.

Features: Reading Guide, Focus Mode, Reading Progress Bar, Magnifying Lens

Reading Guide

What It Does

Displays a horizontal line (ruler) that follows your cursor. Helps you track the current line while reading long passages. In a text field it follows the text cursor instead.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Open the Seeing group
  3. Toggle Reading Guide ON

Or press Alt+G to toggle.

How It Works

  • A horizontal highlight bar follows your mouse cursor
  • Helps prevent losing your place while reading
  • Stays visible as you scroll

Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Alt+GToggle Reading Guide
Alt+Up / Alt+DownNudge the guide up or down (add Shift for larger steps)
EscapeTurn the Reading Guide off

Customisation

In Settings:

  • Line Color - Black (the default), White for dark pages, Red, Blue, Green, Magenta or Orange
  • Line Thickness - 1px to 10px, 3px by default
  • Line Opacity - 10% to 100%, 70% by default

Tips

  • Works best when moving your mouse as you read
  • Combine with larger text for maximum readability
  • Helpful for wide monitors where lines are long

Focus Mode

What It Does

Dims the page except for a reading window that follows your cursor. Reduces peripheral distractions.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Open the Focus group
  3. Toggle Focus Mode ON

Or press Alt+F to toggle.

How It Works

  • Everything outside your focus area dims (becomes darker)
  • The reading window follows your cursor
  • Only the content you’re reading remains fully visible

Keyboard Shortcuts

ShortcutAction
Alt+FToggle Focus Mode

Customisation

In Settings:

  • Window Width — 150px to 800px, 400px by default
  • Window Height — 50px to 250px, 100px by default
  • Overlay Darkness — 10% to 100%, 70% by default

Want full control? See Focus Mode Deep Dive.

Reading Progress Bar

What It Does

Shows a progress bar at the top of the page indicating how far you’ve scrolled through the content. Gives a sense of accomplishment and helps with pacing.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Open the Focus group
  3. Toggle Reading Progress ON

How It Works

  • A coloured bar appears at the top of the page
  • Fills from left to right as you scroll down
  • Can show the percentage complete (turn on Show Percentage)

Customisation

In Settings:

  • Position - top or bottom of the page
  • Bar Color - Green (the default), Blue, Orange, Purple or Pink
  • Show Percentage - print the percentage read on the bar, off by default

Tips

  • Especially helpful for long articles
  • Gives ADHD readers visual feedback on progress
  • Works on most web pages automatically

Magnifying Lens

What It Does

Creates a magnified view of the area under your cursor. Useful for reading small text or examining details in images.

How to Enable

  1. Click the AssisT icon
  2. Open the Seeing group
  3. Toggle Magnifying Lens ON

How It Works

  • Move your cursor over any area
  • A magnified circle shows that area enlarged
  • Magnification level is adjustable

Customisation

In Settings:

  • Magnification - 1.5x to 4x, 2x by default
  • Lens size - 100px to 600px, 275px by default
  • Enable offset from cursor - move the lens off the pointer so it does not cover what you are reading, off by default
  • Offset distance and direction - how far away and on which side, when offset is on
  • Lock lens position - keeps the lens fixed in the middle of the window, off by default
  • Keyboard - Alt with an arrow key moves the lens, Alt with + or - changes the magnification, Alt with [ or ] changes the lens size, and Escape turns it off

Tips

  • Good for examining images or diagrams
  • Useful for small fonts you can’t change
  • For the whole page at once, use Chrome’s own zoom (Ctrl and + or -) instead

For Educators & Parents

Why Reading Aids Matter

For students with ADHD:

  • Reading Guide maintains place during distractions
  • Focus Mode reduces visual overwhelm
  • Progress Bar provides accomplishment feedback

For students with dyslexia:

  • Reading Guide helps track lines
  • Larger focus area reduces visual crowding
  • Progress tracking builds reading stamina

For students with low vision:

  • Magnifying Lens for small text
  • Focus Mode highlights content
  • All tools reduce eye strain

Classroom Tips

  1. Start with Reading Guide — Most universally helpful
  2. Try Focus Mode for tests — Reduces visual overwhelm during assessments
  3. Use Progress Bar for long assignments — Helps students pace themselves
  4. Combine features — Reading Guide + Focus Mode work well together

Accommodations Connection

Reading aids support common educational accommodations:

  • Extended time (helps students work more efficiently)
  • Preferential seating (reduces need by focusing content)
  • Large print materials (Magnifying Lens supplements)
  • Reduced distractions (Focus Mode)

Privacy Note

All Reading Aids work locally on the device. No data is collected or transmitted.

Learn More