Have you ever put off reading that assignment until the last minute and then tried to plough through what feels like a mountain of reading? Or started a class and looked at the reading list and wondered if it was possible to read all that material? The solution may be learning to read faster. The average person reads approximately 200 words per minute (WPM). But today’s technology can help you increase your speed to 1,000 WPM or more, depending on your comfort level.
Speed reading technology isn’t all that new. In 2005, Stanford researchers unveiled Rapid Serial Visual Presentation technology (RSVP) to the world. RSVP works by showing the viewer only one or two words at a time. With practice, readers can increase the speed of the words being shown. Tech company Spritz has taken that method to an even higher level with what they call Optical Recognition Point or ORP. This technology identifies a central letter in each word and makes it red. Spritz claims this helps with speed and comprehension.
According to the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), 44 percent of first-year students read more than 10 assigned books and course packs. Using speed reading technology to help increase your reading speed can help you get through that large task. There are several apps that offer tools for speed reading. [Read more...]