Problems it solves · Focus

Hard to focus on long text? Get the outline first, then the detail

Last updated: 2026-10-31

If you lose focus halfway through long text, change the order: hear the outline first, then read only the part you need. On a Mac with Corvi, tap Fn on an article, e-mail or document to hear its main points in a few sentences, then double-tap Fn and ask questions that take you straight to the detail, instead of rereading paragraphs.

Why long text is hard to stay with

Long text asks for sustained attention while everything else on a screen competes for it: notifications, tabs, chat. Readers who start a long document without knowing where it's going often reread the same paragraph, lose the thread, or give up halfway. This is common, and more so for people with dyslexia, attention difficulties, tired eyes or in a second language.

Knowing the structure first helps. Teachers have long used "advance organizers", a short overview before the material, because a reader who knows the main points can place each detail as it comes (Ausubel, 1960).

Techniques that help, with or without Corvi

How Corvi helps

  1. The outline, aloud: tap Fn on the text. You hear what it's about and its main points in 3–5 sentences. Now you know the map.
  2. Questions instead of rereading: double-tap Fn and ask "What's the conclusion?", "What does it say about costs?", "What do I need to do?". Each answer goes a step deeper.
  3. Only the part that matters: select a section and tap Fn to hear just that section.
  4. Write back without losing the thread: hold Fn and say your reply or notes while the content is still fresh.

Listening frees your eyes, and short spoken answers are easier to stay with than a wall of text.

Stop typing. Stop reading. Talk and listen.

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A note on accessibility

Corvi is a productivity tool and makes no health claims. Many people who find long reading hard, because of dyslexia, attention difficulties or eye strain, use listening and short summaries as one of their strategies. If reading difficulties affect your work or studies, a specialist can help you find what works for you. More in Corvi for accessibility.

When to read in full anyway

Some texts need every word: contracts you sign, instructions you follow step by step, exam material. Use Corvi's outline to know what's coming, then read those in full. For every word read aloud, use macOS Spoken Content. See read aloud on a Mac.

Frequently asked questions

Does Corvi read the whole text aloud?

No. It summarizes the main points and answers questions. For word-by-word reading, macOS has Spoken Content built in.

Can I slow the voice down?

Yes, you can choose the voice and speaking speed in Corvi's settings.

Does it work with PDFs and e-books?

It works with PDFs and with any text an app shows on screen. Select the text first for the whole document.

Is it free?

Corvi is free to download and use on the free plan, with no card needed.

Too much to read? Hear the gist first, then decideReports, e-mails, articles and docs pile up faster than you can read them. On a Mac, tap Fn and hear the gist of any text in a few sentences.Summarize a PDF on a Mac and ask it questions, by voiceLong PDF report, paper or contract? Open it in Preview or your browser, select all, tap Fn: Corvi tells you the key points aloud, then answers your questions.Corvi for people who find typing or reading hardFor people who find typing or long reading hard, from wrist strain to dyslexia or tired eyes: type by voice and hear short spoken summaries on a Mac.Read aloud on a Mac: listen instead of readingWays to have your Mac read text to you: built-in Spoken Content, read-aloud apps, and Corvi's one-key spoken summary of whatever is on screen.