"Spritz" software helps readers to read 600 words per minute
The time-consuming task of reading literary tomes like "Moby Dick" is about to change. Boston-based software developer Spritz has been working on a program that will be launched side-by-side with Samsung's new S5 smartphone and Gear 2.
The reading technology could easily outpace traditional reading methods -- such as skimming, scanning and detailed reading -- allowing readers to read at speeds that would enable them to finish a novel in an hour and a half.
When reading a traditional book, the website explains, only around 20 percent of the reader's time is spent actually processing the content. Rather, 80 percent of the time is spent moving your eyes word from word and scanning for the "Optimal Recognition Point" (ORP).
The ORP is a certain point within a word that the eye seeks and your brain processes that information. After doing this for each word in a sentence, the brain is prompted to assemble the words and process them in one coherent thought, according to the website. Taking the ORP, which is slightly left to the center of each word in the Spritz reader, it makes that point red and presents all of the ORPs at the same space on the screen.
This means that readers don't have to constantly look for the ORP and can focus on processing information instantly. When a user becomes accustomed with the Spritz methodology, reading becomes more efficient, as less time is spent locating the ORP. This allows for the reader to read at faster speeds, ranging from 250 words per minute to 600 words per minute.
Since readers are only shown 13 characters at a time, it's a good fit for wearable technology, such as Samsung's Gear 2. Perhaps one day it'll even appear on other wearables, such as Google Glass.