This is how I speed read for decades (autodidact); I swoop over the page once with my eyes and then just jump over it more or less like they show here. Allows me to read multiple books per day.
Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
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Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#32There is a similar technology that flashes the words in place as you read. I remember it making the rounds a few years ago. https://spritz.com/
There are many good RSVP apps and browser plugins. I find it better for news or other things I want to skim read, than trying to power through a novel.
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#33There is a similar technology that flashes the words in place as you read. I remember it making the rounds a few years ago. https://spritz.com/
Yes, you are right.
The problem with Spritz is that you lose the overview of the text and therefore you can't optimally absorb the context of the content.
Some users have already confirmed this to me.
But the technique is cool...
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#34This does indeed seem to work for me, but the repeated emphasis on the patents and trademarks makes me suspicious. It looks like a company who cares much more about patent royalties than about their invention - whom I would never be willing to give my money to. Having seen the principle, I could write a browser extension in an hour. I suppose I'll have to wait 25 years (or whatever the French patent expiry length is)…
Yes, I agree. I guess this technology isn't for everyone. This is a real bummer. They did not have to patent and trademark this method, which in principle is such a basic mechanism. Just had to productize their service really well so they'd take the lead in monetizing.
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#35It would be interesting to see what demands this places on the source material.
There's a fair bit of work in say philosophy where for example the concepts being discussed may be things like relationships between things, or things themselves, or being, also unavoidably something that crops up in the actual discussion, you're comparing comparisons or saying that that that thing that is is. You kinda usually have to slow down considerably to break these things down to have any hope of actually understanding them.
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#36I wonder how difficult it would be to turn this into a Calibre plug in to convert existing ebooks
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#37There is a similar technology that flashes the words in place as you read. I remember it making the rounds a few years ago. https://spritz.com/
There are many good RSVP apps and browser plugins. I find it better for news or other things I want to skim read, than trying to power through a novel.
You are right.
The advantage of Bionic Reading is that you can customize your reading settings.
I think if you want to read a book in a relaxed way, but you have dyslexia (10% of people), then Bionic Reading can help you.
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#38There is a similar technology that flashes the words in place as you read. I remember it making the rounds a few years ago. https://spritz.com/
Btw spritz is an evil company who bullies software developers with their ridiculous and vague patents.
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#39The rules implemented are very simple (taken from the patent application [1], the exact numbers are configurable).
If there are 4 letters, 40% of all letters are bold.
We are happy if as many people as possible can use the advantage of Bionic Reading. For this reason, Bionic Reading should be able to be integrated into existing apps and services. The benefit for the reader should be the main focus.
Re: Show HN: Bionic Reading – Formats text to make it faster to read
#40We were taught "speed reading" in my first year of an electronics diploma. This feels very similar. I found speed reading only good for searching through text. Comprehension and memory goes out the window when I try it. If I want to get information in fast text to speech at 4x speed is more effective.
Yes Bionic Reading is not speed reading.
Speed reading has to be learned and it is demonstrably difficult to verify.
Bionic reading does not have to be learned, it happens intuitively. Because we humans read the way we read.