A book is produced in which each chapter's reading time is calibrated to fit
within the time between two transit stops. A book of this sort must be
calibrated to a single transit system (eg: Montreal Metro) and a single route
through that transit system in order to operate correctly. The calibration must
work for slow readers but must also prevent fast readers from moving on to the
next chapter before its time has come.
This kind of literature will be intrinsically connected to the rhythms of a
transit system and will be in synch with this transit system. Rather than
reading-while-moving one will read moving.
{{
Ways to ensure proper reading of this type of metric text:
V1: Reveal the Constraint
The text will be calibrated to the slowest possible reader of the text. In the
introductory remarks or first chapter of the text, the constraint will be
revealed. This, however, dissimulates the whole experience of metric reading
since, now, the reader is aware of the accidental textual instructions. The
whole effect and affect of metric reading disappear.
V2: Layers of Metric Calibration
The text will be broken up into multiple chapters, subchapters, chapter
subheadings, etc. Each of the subsections will be calibrated for a different
reading speed: for the slowest, the smallest section and for the fastest, the
longest section. In this way, all possibilities will be covered.
V3: Write for the Average Reader
Take a survey of at least 100 readers which will gauge their reading speed.
Take an average based on how many words would be read within the transit trip
in question. Write to this average standard.
V4: Write for One Reader and Hope That it Works
Self explanatory.
}}
This constraint can further expand toward other forms of transportation; thus,
Aerial Reading and Locomotive Reading are both possible developments along with
Velocipedic Reading.
