So I thought that perhaps a speed reading machine was a way of guiding your reading with the techniques of spread reading i.e. the line and card technique and encouraging you to read each line at a glance from the middle of the line, by somehow focusing your attention down the middle of the page and then revealing the text line by line Well, dream on. The speed reading machine has nothing to do with speed reading!
What was described to me as a speed reading machine is in fact just a text converter. It takes text and converts it into audio files which can then be played on your computer, or walkman or MP3 player.
This machine is very useful and allows one to be absorbing reading material while on the move, and if you are a slow reader, it is faster than ploughing through the text. Also if children are dyslexic or have been diagnosed with either ADD or ADHD, then it is a good way for the child to get through their studies at a more comparable speed to the other children, and will hopefully stop the child from falling behind in class.
However, it will not speed up their reading. If anything, a child who gets used to absorbing text in this manner will not be practicing reading and will probably therefore get slower at reading!
As with all inventions there is definitely a use for it, but probably as an addition to reading, perhaps it should be targeted at those who travel a lot, but maybe not at children.
So I thought that perhaps a speed reading machine was a way of guiding your reading with the techniques of spread reading i.e. the line and card technique and encouraging you to read each line at a glance from the middle of the line, by somehow focusing your attention down the middle of the page and then revealing the text line by line Well, dream on. The speed reading machine has nothing to do with speed reading!
What was described to me as a speed reading machine is in fact just a text converter. It takes text and converts it into audio files which can then be played on your computer, or walkman or MP3 player.
This machine is very useful and allows one to be absorbing reading material while on the move, and if you are a slow reader, it is faster than ploughing through the text. Also if children are dyslexic or have been diagnosed with either ADD or ADHD, then it is a good way for the child to get through their studies at a more comparable speed to the other children, and will hopefully stop the child from falling behind in class.
However, it will not speed up their reading. If anything, a child who gets used to absorbing text in this manner will not be practicing reading and will probably therefore get slower at reading!
As with all inventions there is definitely a use for it, but probably as an addition to reading, perhaps it should be targeted at those who travel a lot, but maybe not at children.
Recent research has suggested that children under the age of 7 should not use a computer as this can delay their reading as they are not training their eyes to focus at the correct distance; also, children learn to read by following their fingers across the page, this teaches the brain the movement of the eyes from left to right.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how much equipment there is to help our children, they all need to learn to read. Hence the reading machine, which converts text to audio, may not be doing children any favours.
As an adult however, if you are forever having to sit and dredge through the latest articles in your chosen field, then the a reading machine may allow you to get through more of these as are you can continue to absorb the information when walking, jogging or even at the gym.
It seems that although all these gadgets can help, there is nothing like actually being able to read, from there learning to speed read, and then if you really want to maximize your time efficiency, then add a reading machine for times when you are on the move.
Unfortunately a reading machine will not teach you to speed read, but it will present information in a readily absorbable format. Perhaps the type of person who is interested in this type of machine is the perfect person to learn to speed read!
; also, children learn to read by following their fingers across the page, this teaches the brain the movement of the eyes from left to right.
At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how much equipment there is to help our children, they all need to learn to read. Hence the reading machine, which converts text to audio, may not be doing children any favours.
As an adult however, if you are forever having to sit and dredge through the latest articles in your chosen field, then the a reading machine may allow you to get through more of these as are you can continue to absorb the information when walking, jogging or even at the gym.
It seems that although all these gadgets can help, there is nothing like actually being able to read, from there learning to speed read, and then if you really want to maximize your time efficiency, then add a reading machine for times when you are on the move.
Unfortunately a reading machine will not teach you to speed read, but it will present information in a readily absorbable format. Perhaps the type of person who is interested in this type of machine is the perfect person to learn to speed read!
Speed Reading Course Online
Very often, when perusing materials relating to improving your speed reading skills, you'll see comments to the effect that vocalization is the biggest hurdle in speed reading. Moreover, if you do happen to be one of those people who vocalize when you read, you'll need to overcome this practice if you want to significantly increase your reading speed.
All of this is a roundabout way of saying that those of us who vocalize our words when we speed read have not perfected our speed reading skills. Having said that, what is vocalization - and why is it seen as being one of the biggest hurdles in speed reading?
Vocalization explained
"Vocalization", or subvocalization as it is sometimes also known, is the practice of pronouncing/speaking words out aloud, albeit under your breath or even in your head, as you read materials. The argument goes that this is a common flaw in most people's reading skills as it is a habit adopted from our formative years, when we were encouraged, by our teachers, peers and parents, to speak-out the words we were reading. The net result of all this is that we place a limit on our ability to speed read if we vocalize the words as we read. This is because part of our brain needed to vocalize the words being read has to be activated.
Vocalization - the cons
The overwhelming reason why vocalization is seen as negative is the fact that it inhibits your ability to speed read - it slows you down! Here, empirical observation seems to suggest that those who vocalize are unable to read more than 300 words per minute - and are likely unable to exceed 250 words per minute. Although reading at a rate of between 250 and 300 words per minute would make you an average reader, speed reading techniques should help you to reach at least 500 words per minute. Furthermore, opponents of vocalization argue that rather than helping a reader to comprehend the text being read, vocalization is a barrier to such comprehension; therefore, vocalization is a hurdle not only to speed reading, but also comprehending what is being read.
Vocalization - the pros
Proponents of vocalization who argue that vocalization is actually a good thing, base their counter-argument on two principles. First, they argue that most people are able to speak faster than they can read. Vocalization, where you speak as you read, therefore enables us to read faster - not slower. Second, vocalization is a process that involves repeating what one has just read. Thus, by repeating something we have just read we are far more likely to be able to retain that information in our brain than would be the case if we merely only read the material. Both of these are strong arguments: they both lead to a logical and persuasive argument that vocalization equals a better understanding of the text that we are reading.
And finally, another argument in favor of vocalization harps back to the very reason why we may vocalize in the first place: because vocalization of text helps us in our skills of verbally pronouncing the word being read.
Nonetheless, there are undoubtedly HUGE flaws with vocalization. One of these is the need to re-read material that we have only just read, which is another commonly cited limitation on one's ability to speed read.
Vocalization - eliminating this bad habit
No tried and tested method of curing vocalization has come to the forefront of speed reading techniques. Rather, what is often cited is the need to cure the problem through disciplining yourself not to speak out (vocalize) the words that you are reading as you read them. However, if you have been reading for some time, re-training yourself so that you don't vocalize words can be exhausting and time consuming!
In this regard, one method that has become popular is to read using a marker. The argument goes that if you drag the marker along the page as you read, you are less likely to vocalize your words and more like to be able to read faster. Another method of avoiding vocalization is to readjust the focus of your eyes. Adjusting the focus of your eyes by zooming in on a word and then adjusting your eye focus outwards to see the broader picture of a whole paragraph enables you to read faster as it increases the number of words your eyes can focus on at any one time!
Both Jon Kelly & Melvin Ng are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jon Kelly has sinced written about articles on various topics from Infants And Toddlers, Kids and Teens and Home Management. Jon Kelly is a published author who writes articles, that includes ideas about studying techniques and speed reading. To get more ideas about speed reading. Pl. Jon Kelly's top article generates over 90500 views. Bookmark Jon Kelly to your Favourites.
Melvin Ng has sinced written about articles on various topics from Mesothelioma Lawyer, Speed Reading and Bad Breath. Melvin Ng teaches speed reading through his 16-Minute Speed Reading Audio Program which Guarantees to Double your reading speed in just 16 minutes! . Melvin Ng's top article generates over 368000 views. Bookmark Melvin Ng to your Favourites.
Debt And Credit Solutions You will still have debt, but it will be much more manageable. Remember that this can be a very important step towards fixing your financial situation