Information Shouldn’t Feel Like a Puzzle
Content is meant to help people act. A parent checks benefits, a small business owner applies for a permit, a retiree reads a tax letter. When the language is dense, people miss deadlines and lose trust.
In the Netherlands, about 3 million people struggle with basic reading and writing skills. Globally, the pattern is similar; one study found that only a third of high school graduates read at their grade level.
Dense text shuts people out. Clear text brings them in.
Where AI Helps
Artificial Intelligence can now act as the editor who never sleeps. It can turn long, technical paragraphs into plain language within seconds and save countless hours of rewriting.
Studies show clear gains: readers prefer simplified versions, and research confirms improvements in comprehension and recall.
But here’s the key: no single version works for everyone.
Our vision: One Size Does Not Fit All
It might seem tempting to rewrite everything in the simplest possible form and present that to everyone. But people differ.
- Some readers want the full text, with all the detail and nuance.
- Others prefer a quick overview with just the key points.
- Many need a simpler version to follow the content at all.
Writers choose styles for reasons; legal precision, narrative tone, expert audience. Flattening everything into the same “basic” version solves one problem but creates others. Oversimplification risks losing meaning and alienating readers who expect more depth.
Simplicity matters, but so do context and choice.
A Layered Approach
A better path is to provide multiple synchronized versions of the same content, letting people choose how they engage:
- Original text – the full version, unchanged.
- Quick-scan – highlights, bullet points, and headings for speed.
- Guided explanation – step-by-step with clarifications and examples.
- Basic level – short sentences and everyday vocabulary.
Readers can move between versions. Start with the essentials, dive deeper if needed. Everyone stays aligned, but at the level that works for them.
Beyond Just Rewriting
Clarity isn’t only about shorter sentences. Other features add real value:
- Tap for definitions. Complex terms explained instantly.
- Ask a question. FAQ-style answers linked to the source text.
- Listen instead of read. Text-to-speech works only if the content itself is clear.
Accuracy remains intact because all versions connect back to the original.
Simplicity With Nuance
Layered content offers both clarity and trust:
- Inclusive. Different readers get different paths.
- Faster. Summaries cut minutes off searches.
- Transparent. Original and simplified texts sit side by side.
- Authentic. Tone and detail remain when needed.
From Idea to Practice
Start small. Take one high-traffic page, publish the original alongside alternate views, and track how people respond. Then expand. Clarity scales, and so does trust.