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+---- Thread: Speedreading books. (/showthread.php?tid=2205)
Speedreading books. - justsomeguy - 11-27-2023
This is a program to view text files using one word at a time in rapid succession. Instead of the traditional way of reading a page of text, this displays one word at a time in rapid succession. The speed is adjustable and is adaptive to the length of the word. Your place is automatically saved when you exit the application or even when you switch text files. You can change the font, the font size, and font color from the pause menu.
It also supports inline Unicode characters.
![[Image: screenshot1.png]](https://i.ibb.co/FhSqHwF/screenshot1.png)
![[Image: screenshot2.png]](https://i.ibb.co/dG5g53C/screenshot2.png)
RE: Speedreading books. - SpriggsySpriggs - 11-27-2023
I assume it centers the word in the window?
RE: Speedreading books. - justsomeguy - 11-27-2023
Of course. Try it and see. Its on my github as well if you are not comfortable with the zip file. https://github.com/mechatronic3000/speedreader
RE: Speedreading books. - SpriggsySpriggs - 11-27-2023
I like this idea. In high school, I had an extension for my browser that would allow you to speed read articles online. It would take all the text and show it one word at a time, gradually speeding up to the max. I feel like retention of information was not there, though. My brain was more focused on the flashing words more than it was the content itself.
RE: Speedreading books. - bplus - 11-27-2023
Interesting idea yes, I remember trying to scroll text way way back and it never worked well.
I think you need to see words in context of position in sentence and on page but trying this:
1st problem you guys and your giant screens! I moved title bar back to top now have about 720 pixels free for apps but just changed screen size found that easy enough.
2nd Windows gave me a bunch of shit about accessing the Font folder from the File Loader Dialog OK so I copy font I want to try to Reader Assets what an unexpected hassle!
3rd OK so the reader is flashing words too fast, I can see word but no time to relate to last few for comprehension as Spriggsy mentioned.
Need a speed control slider for mouse to grab and increase or decrease.
Or instructions as to were in code to modify please and thankyou
Update: never mind your code is very readable and therefore modifiable, good coding work!
I am worried about all that flashing though, it kinda gets on my nerves.
RE: Speedreading books. - SpriggsySpriggs - 11-27-2023
I have to say I am impressed with the UI of the program. It is quite good.
RE: Speedreading books. - justsomeguy - 11-28-2023
Thank you for your feedback.
Quote:It would take all the text and show it one word at a time, gradually speeding up to the max.I like this idea of ramping up the speed. I will try to implement it.
Quote:1st problem you guys and your giant screens! I moved title bar back to top now have about 720 pixels free for apps but just changed screen size found that easy enough.I had reduce the screen size a lot because I tried it on my windows tablet. I will see about making it more small screen friendly.
Quote:2nd Windows gave me a bunch of shit about accessing the Font folder from the File Loader Dialog OK so I copy font I want to try to Reader Assets what an unexpected hassle!Forgive me! I forgot to mention that I included a font in the assets folder. I ran into the same issue with Windows as well.
Quote:3rd OK so the reader is flashing words too fast, I can see word but no time to relate to last few for comprehension as Spriggsy mentioned.You can control the speed with the double arrows on the GUI or the up and downs arrow keys. The left and right arrow keys move one sentence forward or backward.
Sooooo you want the full sentence? I was thinking about scrolling the words across the screen as a possible alternative, but I never got around to implement it. Possibly fading the words out the further they were from the center of the screen. Perhaps that would help with the flashing and context.
As far as comprehension is concerned, I believe it will very person to person, figuring out your pace, and it will take time and practice. The defaults were set to my preferences, and I use it for short periods (5-10 min) and then give my brain time to soak on what I read.
Again Thank You for your feedback!
RE: Speedreading books. - SMcNeill - 11-28-2023
In my experience, speed reading and comprehension has always been about knowing which words to just "tune out" of a sentence.
the CAT is EATTING the DOG'S FOOD again.
You can read each word of that sentence, and read 8 words. Or, you can ignore the lowercase words and just skim the capitalized words and read half as much. Either way, your general comprehension of what that sentence pertains to, isn't going to change. If I ask, "Who was doing what?", you'd have no issue answering either way.
The true trick to speed reading, I think, isn't how fast you can read. It's how quickly your eyes can recognize those words which you can just skip over, to get to the bread and butter content of a sentence/paragraph/page.
And, if you know the formalized structure of what the other person is talking about, you can break down and skim/skip whole segments of what you're reading without losing anything. Take for example, a school essay. First couple of chapters is the introduction-- basically the title regurgitated in long form. Then you have the body... Here, you ned to pay more attention to comprehend what they're going on about. Followed by the conclusion which you can just skim as all it does is sum up the author's opinion on whatever they're writing about.
Skip inconsequential words. Skim intro and conclusion. You can "read" that whole essay in 30 seconds!
....
But the problem comes in, "How do you build an app to teach that?"
RE: Speedreading books. - bplus - 11-28-2023
Hardest part of reading on the eyes, is jumping from the end on left and starting up a line down on the right. These apps can save us from that.
But comprehension is another story as mentioned above...
I find myself reading dialog instead of watching movie allot when dialog is presented in single lines with movie or You Tube thing specially lectures. That seems to work pretty well maybe because it is at a speakers pace as oposed to trying to break speed records.
@justsomeguy I did see the fonts you provided, I just wanted as plain and simple letters as Arial for reading. But I did miss instructions about speeding up and slowing, I went into the config file and made changes there. So yeah, I could use some work on reading comprehension
perhaps just the admonishment to quit rushing through...
RE: Speedreading books. - justsomeguy - 11-29-2023
The program is loosely based upon this video and others.
Conversely, if you want maximize your retention, then you can do whats called active reading. This video goes into detail about that.
Based upon your feedback, I'm failing to see any constructive path forward. I won't bother with anymore updates.
Oh well, sometimes you make a dud, it happens.
Thanks