| In the information age, those who know how to | | | | the brain process information that is printed on |
| read faster find themselves with a distinct | | | | paper differently from information that is |
| advantage over their peers who have average to | | | | presented on the computer screen. This has to |
| slow speeds of reading. Students, parents, | | | | do with the how the eye, and therefore the brain, |
| employees and employers all share the common | | | | responds to reflective light (light that bounces off |
| problem of having more information to process | | | | of a printed page) as opposed to transmissive |
| everyday than time to get it done. With this | | | | light (such as the light that emanates from the |
| problem in focus, the company StepWare, Inc. is | | | | computer screen). |
| prepared to help people enjoy reading speed | | | | Studies have shown that comprehension and |
| improvement with their AceReader Pro software | | | | retention of material is higher when people read |
| package. | | | | from a printed page than from the computer |
| This program is not just about helping people zip | | | | screen. The publishers understand this and have |
| through printed material faster, with pages | | | | included special training to help with this situation |
| fluttering down around them like a snowstorm as | | | | as well. |
| they read. Like any good speed reading program, | | | | Learning how to read faster will also help you to |
| the purpose of AceReader is to improve its | | | | break two bad habits, which are major stumbling |
| proficiency. | | | | blocks to speed reading. The first habit is |
| Increasing your proficiency means that not only is | | | | subvocalization, which almost everyone does. |
| reading speed increased, but comprehension levels | | | | Subvocalization is the act of pronouncing the |
| are increased too. Gaining such speed without a | | | | words in your head while you are reading. The |
| commensurate increase in comprehension is a bit | | | | program helps you speed your read, to the point |
| like getting a race car, but having no place to | | | | where it is essentially impossible to continue |
| drive it around. | | | | subvocalizing. |
| One of the first tasks of the AceReader Pro | | | | The second bad habit is re-reading or regression. |
| software is to assess where a student currently | | | | This is also common to virtually all average |
| is, in relation to their reading speed and their level | | | | readers and is simply the tendency to let your |
| of comprehension. This is the first important step | | | | eyes wander backward to a previous line or |
| in any speed reading course or software that is | | | | paragraph you have just read. The program helps |
| intended to improve a student's reading speed. | | | | readers overcome this habit by flashing word sets |
| Without a clear snapshot of the current skill level, | | | | at the user which forces them to read forward |
| it is almost impossible to know where the reader | | | | and eliminate the opportunity to re-read. |
| needs to begin their training, not to mention the | | | | Once these habits are broken, the student can |
| difficulty of tracking progress. | | | | read materials outside of the AceReader Pro |
| The program next starts to teach you how to | | | | software and not be constrained by practices |
| read faster and how to make sure that your | | | | that interfere with reading speed and |
| comprehension is keeping up with the increase in | | | | comprehension. With this kind of speed reading |
| reading speed. And, unlike some of the other | | | | training, people often feel freed from the stresses |
| programs that are available, this program helps | | | | of trying to process the constant barrage of |
| not only with your offline reading tasks, but with | | | | information. In addition, people reported that their |
| online needs as well. The programs includes special | | | | enjoyment of reading increased and became |
| display modes that are designed to help you read | | | | more fun, as they were able to absorb more |
| faster while you are using the computer. | | | | material in less time, which is something everyone |
| Many people are not aware that the eyes and | | | | needs in the fast paced world of today. |