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Development of an Android Application to Measure Reading
Performance in both Clinical and Research Environments

Aurelie Calabrese, Junior research scientist, BIOVISION Lab, Inria
Pierre Kornprobst, Senior research scientist, BIOVISION Lab, Inria

CONTEXT: The MNREAD ACUITY CHART is a standardized reading test has
been designed to measure the reading performance of people with normal
and low vision [1] (see also video [2]). Its prominent use worldwide
in both clinical and research settings makes it a strong diagnostic
tool for reading deficit. In brief, the MNREAD allows to measure how
reading performance changes when print size decreases, by presenting a
series of short sentences with decreasing size printed on cardboard.

PROBLEM: To respond to the rapid transition to digital reading in our
culture, the time has come to adapt reading-acuity measures to
evaluate legibility on digital displays. Therefore, the creators of
the MNREAD have recently developed an electronic version of the MNREAD
test, running on iOS: the MNREAD iPad App ©2017 [3,4]. This digital
transition will help standardize reading assessment in several ways:
(a) through unified testing and scoring methods that increase inter-
tester reliability; (b) by promoting data sharing and
portability. However, the MNREAD test is not yet available on Android,
while many clinics use this platform for patient-care and data
collection.

METHOD: Our main objective is to develop an Android application that
will replicate the MNREAD iPad App, while bringing new
features. Throughout the developing process, e-ink tablets will be
used (e.g., BOOX 13.3"). Once development is completed, the same
devices will be used for experimental validation through
within-subject comparison.

PERSPECTIVE: In the short run, the MNREAD Android app will serve as a
research tool, allowing for instance to generalize the principles of
the test to evaluate the effects on reading of dependent variables
other than print size e.g., evaluate the readability of a new
typeface, letter spacing and line length. In the long run, the MNREAD
Android app may be commercialized to serve as a valuable tool in
clinical settings.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

[1] Mansfield JS, Ahn SJ, Legge GE, Luebker A (1993) A new
reading-acuity chart for normal and low vision. Ophthalmic and Visual
Optics/Noninvasive Assessment of the Visual System Technical Digest,
(Optical Society of America, Washington, DC., 1993.) 3: 232--235.

[2] VIDEO of the classical MNREAD test:
https://www.precision-vision.com/mn-read-testing- demonstration/

[3] Calabrèse, A., To, L., He, Y., Berkholtz, E., Rafian, P., & Legge,
G. E. (2018a). Comparing Performance on the MNREAD iPad Application
with the MNREAD Acuity Chart. Journal of Vision, 18(1),
8. http://doi.org/10.1167/18.1.8

[4] MNREAD iPad App ©2017 - Version 1.5 Legge G.E., Calabrèse A., To
L., Mansfield J.S., Bigelow C.  Apple App Store -
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mnread/id1196638274?ls=1&mt=8

SUPERVISORS: The candidate will be co-supervised by A. Calabrèse, a
psychophysicist specialized in visual neuroscience with a strong
clinical expertise, and P. Kornprobst, a mathematician with strong
expertise in computer vision and human vision understanding.

CONDITIONS:
- Duration: 6 months
- Starting date: February/March 2020
- Where: Inria Sophia Antipolis - Méditerranée, France
  (https://www.inria.fr/en/centre/sophia).
- Salary: approx. 550 euros per month.

CURRICULUM OF THE CANDIDATE: Applicants should have experience in
developing Android applications, a keen interest in user experience,
low vision or both, and a relevant Master, for example in computer
science, linguistics, digital humanities or natural language
processing.

FOLLOW-UP: Funding opportunities to continue for a Ph.D.

TO APPLY: Please visit https://team.inria.fr/biovision/job-offers.