Creative Reading: Scaffolding Reading for Transformation
2026-06-03 • Human-Computer Interaction
Human-Computer InteractionInformation RetrievalSocial and Information Networks
AI summaryⓘ
The authors explain that many reading tools focus on quickly delivering information, which can take away the personal effort and interpretation involved in reading. They suggest a different approach called "creative reading," which helps readers actively interpret texts and develop as thinkers. By combining ideas from literature and creativity research, they propose designs that encourage readers to explore multiple ways of understanding texts and grow through the reading process.
reading augmentationinformation transmissionscholarly readingcreative readingliterary theorynarrative theorysensemakingcreativity supportdesign spaceplurality of readings
Authors
Sophia Liu, Sarah Abowitz, Yijun Liu, Sarah Sterman, Shm Garanganao Almeda, Max Kreminski
Abstract
Reading augmentation systems increasingly help readers process text at scale. While these tools address real constraints of time and cognitive load, they often implicitly frame reading as information transmission, or "reading to discard," delegating interpretation and effort to the machine. Yet this delegation changes the outcome of reading. For example, in scholarly reading, deciding what a research text implies and why it matters is central to the work of scholarly production. We propose creative reading as an alternative goal: reading augmentation that supports readers in creating both readings and themselves as readers. By putting literary and narrative theories into conversation with scholarly sensemaking and creativity support, we present a provocation-oriented design space for valuing the process of reading as a way of preserving a plurality of readings and transforming readers over time.