Hi everybody! I have created this page to tell you about a new printing style that I have created, where alternate lines of text in a document are reversed. In the first line, the words go from left to right, and in the second line they go from right to left, and so on. I believe this makes the document easier to read, because your eye does not have to jump from the right side of the page all the way back to the left after reading each line. This printing style is thought to be especially helpful for some dyslexic readers, who often lose their place in a document. I have included a sample below, as both a downloadable .pdf file and text on the web page.
At the top of the page you will find a link to a page where you can type in some text yourself and click a button to convert it to Zig Zag Text format.
Also, check out coverage of this idea by the local ABC affiliate: Why Guy 8/29/08 .
Where this is going:
I would like to know if other people besides me find it easier to read text in this form, and if so, I would like to see a portion of the world’s printed material created in this style. To answer this question, I need to expose as many people as possible to this format; in keeping with this goal,
1) I have converted the text of 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' to the Zig Zag Text format, and am looking for a book publisher to publish this work. I think children would have a lot of fun with it. So if you are a publisher, please call me - I would love to discuss this with you!
2) I am ready to help any author of a book or article, in print or online, convert their material to Zig Zag Text format. You are also of course free to convert the text yourselves. For online publishers, the Javascript code behind the 'Try It' web page is available for you to copy and use in your own web page or other program under the GNU General Public License, which means you can modify and redistribute it freely as long as you include the copyright notice and the statement of general permission at the top of the code.(You are also of course welcome to write your own code from scratch). I would love to see some web publishers try this format on their sites, possibly with the buttons to flip the text between regular and Zig Zag Text. This code can also be adapted to convert text files for paper printing.
3) If anybody reading this has any other suggestions for increasing use of Zig Zag Text, I would love to hear from you!
-Sam Banerjee
Sample (downloadable pdf): Schoolmistress.pdf
The Schoolmistress, by Chekhov
> The Schoolmistress
> AT half-past eight they drove out of the town.
> The highroad was dry, a lovely April sun was shining warmly, but the
,dark ,Winter .woods the in and ditches the in lying still was snow <
> long, and spiteful, was hardly over; spring had come all of a sudden.
the by warmed ,woods transparent languid the nor warmth the neither But <
> breath of spring, nor the black flocks of birds flying over the huge
into ,sky fathomless marvelous the nor ,lakes like were that puddles <
> which it seemed one would have gone away so joyfully, presented
the in sitting was who Vassilyevna Marya to interesting or new anything <
> cart. For thirteen years she had been schoolmistress, and there was no
the to been had she years those all during times many how reckoning <
> town for her salary; and whether it were spring as now, or a rainy
- always she and ,her to same the all was it ,winter or ,evening autumn <
> - invariably -- longed for one thing only, to get to the end of her
.be could as quickly as journey <
> She felt as though she had been living in that part of the country for
knew she that her to seemed it and ,years hundred a for ,ages and ages <
> every stone, every tree on the road from the town to her school. Her
other no imagine could she and ,here was present her ,here was past <
> future than the school, the road to the town and back again, and again
. . . .road the again and school the <
> She had got out of the habit of thinking of her past before she became
a had once had She .it forgotten almost had and ,schoolmistress a <
> father and mother; they had lived in Moscow in a big flat near the Red
something only memory her in left was there life that all of but ,Gate <
> vague and fluid like a dream. Her father had died when she was ten
,brother a had She . . . .after soon died had mother her and ,old years <
> an officer; at first they used to write to each other, then her brother
of way the of out got had he ,letters her answering up given had <
> writing. Of her old belongings, all that was left was a photograph of
and ,school the of dampness the from dim grown had it but ,mother her <
> now nothing could be seen but the hair and the eyebrows.
> When they had driven a couple of miles, old Semyon, who was driving,
:said and round turned <
> "They have caught a government clerk in the town. They have taken him
the ,Alexeyev killed he Germans some with that is story The .away <
> Mayor, in Moscow."
> "Who told you that?"
> "They were reading it in the paper, in Ivan Ionov's tavern."
> And again they were silent for a long time. Marya Vassilyevna thought
girl the of and ,soon coming was that examination the of ,school her of <
> and four boys she was sending up for it. And just as she was thinking
landowner neighboring a by overtaken was she ,examination the about <
> called Hanov in a carriage with four horses, the very man who had been
he her to up came he When .before year the school her in examiner <
> recognized her and bowed.
> "Good-morning," he said to her. "You are driving home, I suppose."
> This Hanov, a man of forty with a listless expression and a face that
handsome still was but ,old look to beginning was ,wear of signs showed <
> and admired by women. He lived in his big homestead alone, and was not
at nothing did he that him of say to used people and ;service the in <
> home but walk up and down the room whistling, or play chess with his
the at indeed And .heavily drank he that ,too ,said People .footman old <
> examination the year before the very papers he brought with him smelt
that on clothes new in all dressed been had He .scent and wine of <
> occasion, and Marya Vassilyevna thought him very attractive, and all
was She .embarrassed felt had she him beside sat she while the <
> accustomed to see frigid and sensible examiners at the school, while
ask to what know or ,prayer single a remember not did one this <
> questions about, and was exceedingly courteous and delicate, giving
.marks highest the but nothing <
> "I am going to visit Bakvist," he went on, addressing Marya
".home at not is he told am I but" ,Vassilyevna <
> They turned off the highroad into a by-road to the village, Hanov
a at moved horses four The .following Semyon and way the leading <
> walking pace, with effort dragging the heavy carriage through the mud.
at ,road the of edge the to keeping ,side to side from tacked Semyon <
> one time through a snowdrift, at another through a pool, often jumping
still was Vassilyevna Marya .horse the helping and cart the of out <
> thinking about the school, wondering whether the arithmetic questions
annoyed felt she And .easy or difficult be would examination the at <
> with the Zemstvo board at which she had found no one the day before.
two last the for them asking been had she Here !unbusiness-like How <
> years to dismiss the watchman, who did nothing, was rude to her, and
find to hard was It .attention any paid one no but ;schoolboys the hit <
> the president at the office, and when one did find him he would say
inspector the ;spare to moment a hadn't he that eyes his in tears with <
> visited the school at most once in three years, and knew nothing
Duties Excise the in been had he as ,work his about whatever <
> Department, and had received the post of school inspector through
knowing no was there and ,rarely very met Council School The .influence <
> where it met; the school guardian was an almost illiterate peasant, the
of friend great a and ,rude ,unintelligent ,business tanning a of head <
> the watchman's -- and goodness knows to whom she could appeal with
. . . . inquiries or complaints <
> "He really is handsome," she thought, glancing at Hanov.
> The road grew worse and worse. . . . They drove into the wood. Here
water ,in deeply sank wheels the ,round turn to room no was there <
> splashed and gurgled through them, and sharp twigs struck them in the
.face <
> "What a road!" said Hanov, and he laughed.
<
> The schoolmistress looked at him and could not understand why this
,appearance interesting his ,money his could What .here lived man queer <
> his refined bearing do for him here, in this mud, in this God-forsaken,
like ,here and ,life of out advantages special no got He ?place dreary <
> Semyon, was driving at a jog-trot on an appalling road and enduring the
or Petersburg in live could one if here live Why .discomforts same <
> abroad? And one would have thought it would be nothing for a rich man
enduring avoid to ,one bad this of instead road good a make to him like <
> this misery and seeing the despair on the faces of his coachman and
no wanted and ,mind not did apparently and ,laughed only he but ;Semyon <
> better life. He was kind, soft, naive, and he did not understand this
He .prayers the know not did he examination the at as just ,life coarse <
> subscribed nothing to the schools but globes, and genuinely regarded
of cause the in worker prominent a and person useful a as himself <
> popular education. And what use were his globes here?
> "Hold on, Vassilyevna!" said Semyon.
> The cart lurched violently and was on the point of upsetting; something
of parcel her was it -- feet Vassilyevna's Marya to on rolled heavy <
> purchases. There was a steep ascent uphill through the clay; here in
have to seemed water The .gurgling were rivulets ditches winding the <
> gnawed away the road; and how could one get along here! The horses
of side the at walked and carriage his of out got Hanov .hard breathed <
> the road in his long overcoat. He was hot.
> "What a road!" he said, and laughed again. "It would soon smash up
".carriage one's <
> "Nobody obliges you to drive about in such weather," said Semyon
".home at stay should You" .surlily <
> "I am dull at home, grandfather. I don't like staying at home."
> Beside old Semyon he looked graceful and vigorous, but yet in his walk
being a him in betrayed which perceptible just something was there <
> already touched by decay, weak, and on the road to ruin. And all at
was Vassilyevna Marya .wood the in spirits of whiff a was there once <
> filled with dread and pity for this man going to his ruin for no
been had she if that mind her into came it and ,reason or cause visible <
> his wife or sister she would have devoted her wh ole life to saving him
his in living was he here that ordered so was Life !wife His .ruin from <
> great house alone, and she was living in a God-forsaken village alone,
close be might she and he that thought mere the reason some for yet and <
> to one another and equals seemed impossible and absurd. In reality,
utterly so complicated were relations human and arranged was life <
> beyond all understanding that when one thought about it one felt
.sank heart one's and uncanny <
> "And it is beyond all understanding," she thought, "why God gives
,unlucky ,weak to eyes sweet ,sad and ,graciousness this ,beauty <
> useless people -- why they are so charming."
> "Here we must turn off to the right," said Hanov, getting into his
"!good things all you wish I !Good-by" .carriage <
> And again she thought of her pupils, of the examination, of the
of sound the brought wind the when and ;Council School the of ,watchman <
> the retreating carriage these thoughts were mingled with others. She
which happiness the of ,love of ,eyes beautiful of think to longed <
> would never be. . . .
> His wife? It was cold in the morning, there was no one to heat the
was it as soon as in came children the ;disappeared watchman the ,stove <
> light, bringing in snow and mud and making a noise: it was all so
room little one of consisted abode Her .comfortless so ,inconvenient <
> and the kitchen close by. Her head ached every day after her work, and
the from money collect to had She .heart-burn had she dinner after <
> school-children for wood and for the watchman, and to give it to the
insolent ,overfed that -- him entreat to then and ,guardian school <
> peasant -- for God's sake to send her wood. And at night she dreamed of
grow her making was life this And .snowdrifts ,peasants ,examinations <
> old and coarse, making her ugly, angular, and awkward, as though she
her from up get would she and ,afraid always was She .lead of made were <
> seat and not venture to sit down in the presence of a member of the
deferential ,formal used she And .guardian school the or Zemstvo <
> expressions when she spoke of any one of them. And no one thought her
without ,affection without ,drearily passing was life and ,attractive <
> friendly sympathy, without interesting acquaintances. How awful it
!love in fallen had she if position her in been have would <
> "Hold on, Vassilyevna!"
> Again a sharp ascent uphill. . . .
> She had become a schoolmistress from necessity, without feeling any
serving of ,vocation a of thought never had she and ;it for vocation <
> the cause of enlightenment; and it always seemed to her that what was
but ,enlightenment nor ,children the not was work her in important most <
> the examinations. And what time had she for thinking of vocation, of
and ,doctors paid badly ,Teachers ?enlightenment of cause the serving <
> their assistants, with their terribly hard work, have not even the
as ,people the or idea an serving are they that thinking of comfort <
> their heads are always stuffed with thoughts of their daily bread, of
an ,hard-working a is It .illnesses of ,roads bad of ,fire the for wood <
> uninteresting life, and only silent, patient cart-horses like Mary
,nervous ,lively the ;long for it with up put could Vassilyevna <
> impressionable people who talked about vocation and serving the idea
.work the up gave and it of weary soon were <
> Semyon kept picking out the driest and shortest way, first by a meadow,
peasants the place one in but ;huts village the of backs the by then <
> would not let them pass, in another it was the priest's land and they
the from plot a bought had Ionov Ivan another in ,it cross not could <
> landowner and had dug a ditch round it. They kept having to turn back.
> They reached Nizhneye Gorodistche. Near the tavern on the dung-strewn
had that wagons stood there ,lying still was snow the where ,earth <
> brought great bottles of crude sulphuric acid. There were a great many
,vodka of smell a was there and ,drivers all ,tavern the in people <
> tobacco, and sheepskins. There was a loud noise of conversation and the
a for ceasing without ,wall the Through .swing-door the of banging <
> moment, came the sound of a concertina being played in the shop. Marya
table next the at while ,tea some drank and down sat Vassilyevna <
> peasants were drinking vodka and beer, perspiring from the tea they had
.tavern the of fumes stifling the and swallowed just <
> "I say, Kuzma!" voices kept shouting in confusion. "What there!" "The
old ,out Look" "!that you tell can I ,Dementyitch Ivan" "!us bless Lord <
> man!"
> A little pock-marked man with a black beard, who was quite drunk, was
.language bad using began and something by surprised suddenly <
> "What are you swearing at, you there?" Semyon, who was sitting some way
"?lady young the see you Don't" .angrily responded ,off <
> "The young lady!" someone mimicked in another corner.
> "Swinish crow!"
> "We meant nothing . . ." said the little man in confusion. "I beg your
-Good .hers with lady young the and money our with pay We .pardon <
> morning!"
> "Good-morning," answered the schoolmistress.
> "And we thank you most feelingly."
> Marya Vassilyevna drank her tea with satisfaction, and she, too, began
about again thinking to fell and ,peasants the like red turning <
> firewood, about the watchman. . . .
> "Stay, old man," she heard from the next table, "it's the
young good a she's ;her know We . . . .Vyazovye from schoolmistress <
> lady."
> "She's all right!"
> The swing-door was continually banging, some coming in, others going
same the of time the all thinking ,on sat Vassilyevna Marya .out <
> things, while the concertina went on playing and playing. The patches
to ,counter the to passed they then ,floor the on been had sunshine of <
> the wall, and disappeared altogether; so by the sun it was past midday.
little The .go to ready getting were table next the at peasants The <
> man, somewhat unsteadily, went up to Marya Vassilyevna and held out his
at ,too ,hands shook others the ,example his following ;her to hand <
> parting, and went out one after another, and the swing-door squeaked
.times nine slammed and <
> "Vassilyevna, get ready," Semyon called to her.
> They set off. And again they went at a walking pace.
> "A little while back they were building a school here in their Nizhneye
that thing wicked a was It" .round turning ,Semyon said ",Gorodistche <
> was done!"
> "Why, what?"
> "They say the president put a thousand in his pocket, and the school
".hundred five teacher the and ,his in thousand another guardian <
> "The whole school only cost a thousand. It's wrong to slander people,
".nonsense all That's .grandfather <
> "I don't know, . . . I only tell you what folks say."
> But it was clear that Semyon did not believe the schoolmistress. The
too received she thought always They .her believe not did peasants <
> large a salary, twenty-one roubles a month (five would have been
for children the from collected she that money the of that and ,(enough <
> the firewood and the watchman the greater part she kept for herself.
a made himself he and ,peasants the as same the thought guardian The <
> profit off the firewood and received payments from the peasants for
.authorities the of knowledge the without -- guardian a being <
> The forest, thank God! was behind them, and now it would be flat, open
They .now go to far not was there and ,Vyazovye to way the all ground <
> had to cross the river and then the railway line, and then Vyazovye was
.sight in <
> "Where are you driving?" Marya Vassilyevna asked Semyon. "Take the road
".bridge the to right the to <
> "Why, we can go this way as well. It's not deep enough to matter."
> "Mind you don't drown the horse."
> "What?"
> "Look, Hanov is driving to the bridge," said Marya Vassilyevna, seeing
".think I ,he is It" .right the to away far horses four the <
> "It is. So he didn't find Bakvist at home. What a pig-headed fellow he
It's ?for what and ,there over driven He's !us upon mercy have Lord .is <
> fully two miles nearer this way."
> They reached the river. In the summer it was a little stream easily
the after ,now but ,August in up dried usually It .wading by crossed <
> spring floods, it was a river forty feet in breadth, rapid, muddy, and
of tracks fresh were there water the to up right and bank the on ;cold <
> wheels, so it had been crossed here.
> "Go on!" shouted Semyon angrily and anxiously, tugging violently at the
"!on Go" .wings its does bird a as elbows his jerking and reins <
> The horse went on into the water up to his belly and stopped, but at
a of aware was Vassilyevna Marya and ,effort an with again on went once <
> keen chilliness in her feet.
> "Go on!" she, too, shouted, getting up. "Go on!"
> They got out on the bank.
> "Nice mess it is, Lord have mercy upon us!" muttered Semyon, setting
". . . .Zemstvo this with plague perfect a It's" .harness the straight <
> Her shoes and goloshes were full of water, the lower part of her dress
and sugar the :dripping and wet were sleeve one and coat her of and <
> flour had got wet, and that was worst of all, and Marya Vassilyevna
:say and despair in hands her clasp only could <
> Oh, Semyon, Semyon! How tiresome you are really! . . ."
> The barrier was down at the railway crossing. A train was coming out of
it till waiting crossing the at stood Vassilyevna Marya .station the <
> should pass, and shivering all over with cold. Vyazovye was in sight
its with church the and ,roof green the with school the and ,now <
> crosses flashing in the evening sun: and the station windows flashed
her to seemed it and . . . engine the from rose smoke pink a and ,too <
> that everything was trembling with cold.
> Here was the train; the windows reflected the gleaming light like the
the On .them at look to ache eyes her made it :church the on crosses <
> little platform between two first-class carriages a lady was standing,
a What !mother Her .passed she as her at glanced Vassilyevna Marya and <
> resemblance! Her mother had had just such luxuriant hair, just such a
first the for ,distinctness amazing with And .head the of bend and brow <
> time in those thirteen years, there rose before her mind a vivid
,Moscow in flat their ,brother her ,father her ,mother her of picture <
> the aquarium with little fish, everything to the tiniest detail; she
had she as felt she ;voice father's her ,piano the of sound the heard <
> been then, young, good-looking, well-dressed, in a bright warm room
over came suddenly happiness and joy of feeling A .people own her among <
> her, she pressed her hands to her temples in an ecstacy, and called
:beseechingly ,softly <
> "Mother!"
> And she began crying, she did not know why. Just at that instant Hanov
imagined she him seeing and ,horses four of team his with up drove <
> happiness such as she had never had, and smiled and nodded to him as an
her ,happiness her that her to seemed it and ,friend a and equal <
> triumph, was glowing in the sky and on all sides, in the windows and on
a been never had she ,died never had mother and father Her .trees the <
> schoolmistress, it was a long, tedious, strange dream, and now she had
. . . .awakened <
> "Vassilyevna, get in!"
> And at once it all vanished. The barrier was slowly raised. Marya
The .cart the into got ,cold with numb and shivering ,Vassilyevna <
> carriage with the four horses crossed the railway line; Semyon followed
.cap his off took signalman The .it <
> "And here is Vyazovye. Here we are."