Can Software REALLY Help you Read Faster and Better?
Some time last year, I picked up a copy of a software program that would help me read faster. Having so many choices available to me, made the choice pretty difficult but in the end I choose a product called RocketReader, a Windows™ program that really has helped both my daughter and me read faster.
Why I choose the Software I did
One of the things that led me to choose Rocket Reader over some of the other software that is available is the fact that they have a web based demo and a fourteen day trial. During the fourteen day trial both of us were able to notice an improvement in our speed. I went from 250wpm to about 300wpm and my daughter went from 300wpm to about 400wpm.
Results
We both used the product pretty consistently for about three months when we finally reached a plateau at 350-400wpm for me and about 1000wpm for my daughter. But, more important than the speed is the fact that my daughter could now remember what she read out of her history book.
One of the reasons my daughter even agreed to try the program was because she was spending an hour and a half every day reading her history text book. Ug! I’d be looking for a shortcut too. Worse, even after she spent the time reading, she couldn’t remember what she had “read.” From my previous articles, you’ll remember that the reason for this is because she was reading too slow and therefore had time for her mind to wander. By speeding up her reading, she was able to both reduce the amount of time she spent reading and retain what she read.
Here’s what you get
The RocketReader program has several components.
- Flash Training
By flashing words on the screen in groups for a very short period of time, RocketReader forces you to read groups of letters and eventually groups of words at a time. While there are other methods of training you to read groups of words at a time, this method focuses strictly on reading groups of words without forcing you to also understand what you are reading. - Speed Training
Speed training takes the flash training to the next level. In speed training, RocketReader shows you groups of words at a time, but in the context of a larger document. It also ramps the wpm rate up as you read. If you accept the defaults, you will be reading the document 50% faster at the end then you were when you started the document. Once you have finished reading, you will be tested with the comprehension test for the reading you finished. - Grouping Exercises
The grouping exercise takes the flash training and speed training yet one step further. This time, you get to see the entire document, but the words are “shadowed” out until you get to them. The idea here is that you should be reading the document as the words are revealed. The advantage to this exercise is that it feels more like normal reading. While you may be tempted to read behind, you should force yourself to read at a constant speed. - Practice Readings
You can choose from an ever increasing selection of reading to test your new skills and once you have finished, you can test yourself using the comprehension testing module. - Comprehension Testing
Ask a set of questions about what you read to see how much you can remember. - Memory Training
You can write your own multiple choice tests and have RocketReader administer them for you. - Speed Timing
The final component allows you to see your progress by timing you periodically. I’ll warn you ahead of time, you will have good days and bad days so don’t pay too much attention to any one day’s results.
Conclusion
Can a program really help you learn to read faster? Can reading faster help you read better?
Yes. And now you can find out by going to Try the online demo. Download the 14 day trial. See for yourself that it works.
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There is a free web application which will help you learn to read more than one-word-at-a-time. It’s at http://www.readspeeder.com. It uses a new patent pending method which divides any text into its natural, meaningful phrases to help you read a phrase at at time. It works with any text and even on any other web page via a bookmarklet.
Interesting app. I wonder if it does as good a job at TRAINING you to read faster or if it is just a good tool for MAKING you read faster. Not much use if I have to copy my book into the tool.