Neverwritten
Interactive Reading with AI
Problem Statement
Decline in Reading Competence
- PISA Study 2022: 25% of students fail to meet the minimum reading requirements
- IGLU 2021: One in four fourth-graders in Germany cannot read properly
- IQB Education Trend 2022: 32.5% of ninth-graders do not meet the minimum standard in reading.
→ One in four young people cannot read adequately.
Explanation Approach
The Reward System is Impatient
- Social media provides an immediate dopamine reward through quick visual stimuli, conditioning the brain to seek short-term satisfaction—a phenomenon known as "Instant Gratification."
- In contrast, reading requires higher cognitive effort and offers less immediate reward, making it less attractive for many to engage in deeper, longer reading activities.
- The increasing use of digital and visual content, especially social media, demonstrably shortens attention spans and leads to cognitive performance declines.
→ The internet is optimized for the reward system. Reading is not.
Solution Strategy
Making Reading More Attractive
- Regular prompts for decisions: These act like a "pacemaker" for concentration and help maintain attention through small dopamine releases.
- Gamification of reading: By allowing readers to influence the course of the story, reading becomes more dynamic and motivating.
- Personalization of content: Stories tailored to the individual interests and motives of readers enhance reading pleasure and increase engagement.
→ Reading is adapted to the reward system.