Why Speed-Reading Apps Don't Work

sciencehabit writes: "Does reading faster mean reading better? That's what speed-reading apps claim, promising to boost not just the number of words you read per minute, but also how well you understand a text. There's just one problem: The same thing that speeds up reading actually gets in the way of comprehension, according to a new study (abstract). Apps like Spritz or the aptly-named Speed Read are built around the idea that these eye movements, called saccades, are a redundant waste of time. It's more efficient, their designers claim, to present words one at a time in a fixed spot on a screen, discouraging saccades and helping you get through a text more quickly. But that's not what researchers have found."

Comments

Re:There's another reason this doesn't work.

[Xicor]

i actually had my speed and comprehension increase with one of these apps. im dyslexic, so when i read paragraphs i lose my place consistently and have to reread just to understand anything. i dont have the same issue if im only reading one word at a time