By : FARAH NOR IZIATI LIDYA MUNDU

Speed reading is a technique used to improve one's ability to read quickly. Speed reading methods include chunking and eliminating subvocalization. The many available speed reading training programs include books, videos, software, and seminars.

Psychologists and educational specialists working on visual acuity used a tachistoscope to conclude that, with training, an average person could identify minute images flashed on the screen for only one five-hundredth of a second (2 ms) It was not until the late 1950s that a portable, reliable and convenient device would be developed as a tool for increasing reading speed. The researcher was a school-teacher named Evelyn Wood. She was committed to understanding why some people were naturally faster at reading than others and was trying to force herself to read very quickly. In 1958, while brushing off the pages of a book she had thrown down in despair, she discovered that the sweeping motion of her hand across the page caught the attention of her eyes, and helped them move more smoothly across the page. She then used the hand as a pacer. Wood first taught the method at the University of Utah, before launching it to the public as Evelyn Wood's Reading Dynamics in Washington, D.C. in 1959.

Skimming

Skimming is a process of speed reading that involves visually searching the sentences of a page for clues to meaning. Skimming is usually seen more in adults than in children. It is conducted at a higher rate (700 words per minute and above) than normal reading for comprehension (around 200-230 wpm), and results in lower comprehension rates. Another form of skimming is commonly employed by readers on the Internet. This involves skipping over text that is less interesting or less relevant. This form of reading is not new but has become increasingly prevalent due to the ease with which alternative information can be accessed online. Some of the sentences have minor information that might not be required.

Meta guiding

Meta guiding is the visual guiding of the eye using a finger or pointer, such as a pen, in order for the eye to move faster along the length of a passage of text. It involves drawing invisible shapes on a page of text in order to broaden the visual span for speed reading. For example, an audience of customers at a speed reading seminar will be instructed to use a finger or pen to make these shapes on a page and told that this will speed up their visual cortex, increase their visual span to take in the whole line. It has also been claimed to reduce subvocalization, thereby speeding up reading. While this encourages the eye to skim over the text, it reduces comprehension and memory, and leads to missing important details of the text. An emphasis on viewing each word, albeit briefly, is required for this method to be effective.

Speed reading can be effective in terms of time management on high-stakes test taking (SAT, GMAT, LSAT, GRE, SSAT etc.) whereby some companies such as Test Prep New York integrate it into their test preparation curriculum, and claim their students increase their speed up to 400% speed improvement and have average of 13% score improvement on the Verbal section.

PhotoReading
PhotoReading is a commercial product promoted by Learning Strategies Corporation with the phrase PhotoRead at 25,000 words a minute. Doubts have been raised about the ability of the brain to take in such a quantity of data at once. The human vision span is somewhat limited for this purpose if peripheral vision is not used.

Software

Computer programs are available to help instruct speed reading students. Some programs present the data as a serial stream, since the brain handles text more efficiently by breaking it into such a stream before parsing and interpreting it. The 2000 National Reading Panel (NRP) report (p. 3-1) seems to support such a mechanism

memory Better focus Higher levels of self-confidence Improved logic Emotional well-being Improved problem solving skills

Improve

Improved Memory. Speed Reading challenges our brains to

perform at a higher level. When you train your brain to be able to take in information faster, other areas of your brain will also improve such as your memory. Memory when you read, acts like a stabilizer muscle that gets worked when you Speed Read.

Better Focus. Most people have the ability to read at 600wpm (words per minute). The actual average reading speed is around 200wpm. There are two primary reasons. Number one, the traditional reading style The other reason is, lack of focus. If we are not focused on what we are reading, our mind will wander and it will become occupied with other thoughts and thought processes. Speed Reading helps build focus.

Higher levels Of Self-Confidence. I believe that this effect is the result of knowing that you can learn just about any aspect of life faster once you have an better ability to read faster and comprehend more. When you improve your ability to read faster, you will find that more and more doors open up for you and you start to get more options in life.

Improved Logic. Reading is an exercise for your brain. When you train your brain to read faster, something amazing happens. The more you improve in reading speed, the faster this process happens and you will automatically notice improvement with logic. You will then find that when you play games of logic such as chess, you are actually better at it.

Emotional Well-being. Reading is very relaxing in general. It can help reduce stress because it gets your mind off worries or other thoughts that are not healthy and beneficial. When you read faster, you will be even more absorbed into the material. This causes you to focus predominately on the information you are reading. Improved Problem Solving Skills. This again is achieved due the exercise your brain goes through when Speed Reading. You can also take this a step further and read educational material while Speed Reading. By doing this, not only are you going to get the benefits from the theory, you will also gain the benefits of Speed Reading.