| Tips for Speed
Reading On your Computer Monitor
In today’s busy times, people are continually looking
for ways to get things done faster and more efficiently. Because
so many people use computers nowadays for both personal and
professional responsibilities including Internet work and
various software applications the ability to improve reading
is one way to accomplish this. If you can read faster, you
can get through research or online information a lot faster
so that you can use the information for its intended goal.
Speed reading is a skill that can be of great benefit to anyone
who is interested in learning how to read faster. To do so
on a computer monitor will improve many functions needed within
today’s technological age.
Benefits of Speed Reading on your Computer Monitor
For those who already know how to read fast, it is sometimes
difficult to translate the ability to read documents, books
or the written word in hard copy format to the computer screen.
Studies indicate that though speed reading on a computer is
actually slower than in hard copy format that those who do
know how to read faster tend to retain the knowledge a lot
easier. This can be highly beneficial for both personal and
professional use. Some of the benefits of speed reading include:
- Saving time
- Becoming more efficient
- Learning how to get more accomplished while staying alert
- Better memory retention
- Improve productivity
- Having more time in the day for other activities
- Becoming a more concise communicator in all facets of
communication including speaking, writing and reading
- Achieving success in work or school which may have a
direct result on a positive financial future
Using your Computer Monitor Effectively for Speed
Reading
The very actions of using a computer as opposed to turning
a page in a book are vastly different so it is important to
train your eye and hand in a slightly different manner to
accommodate reading faster. Your eye position is different
as are the means in which you turn pages. One of the ways
you can make learning to read faster more comfortable is to
optimize the computer monitor and other computer hardware
in a way that is more conducive to speed reading. Some tips
on optimizing your computer for better speed reading include:
- Make sure you are using the full screen. You can get
rid of the top and bottom tool bars on a computer prior
to having to read fast. You can always put them back up
again when you are finished if you so desire.
- Make the computer screen as large as possible to accommodate
the most text as possible. This will reduce the amount of
times you will need to use the mouse in order to scroll
or turn pages if necessary. Clicking continually, especially
in a short period of time, can put a strain on your hand
and wrist and can even result in injury.
- Make sure your monitor is at a comfortable eye level,
is close enough to you and is tilted at an angle that is
most conducive to reading faster. If you are straining your
eyes or can not see clearly, speed reading becomes much
more difficult.
- Find a monitor that is large and clear such as an LCD
wide screen monitor. You may have to make an initial investment
into this purchase but you will be glad you did when it
makes reading fast a lot easier.
- Adjust the settings to a point where reading fast is
easier for you. This means checking the resolution and adjusting
the fonts not only as a default setting but in commonly
used applications. It is possible one setting will work
better for you when speed reading on a web site and another
when using a software application such as a word processing
program.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Learning how to read faster is an acquired skill and there
needs to be a lot of practice before the skill is attained.
If you want to improve your reading skills, though, there
are several tips you can use to learn how to read faster:
- Learn how to skim tables of content and paragraph headings
for pertinent information before moving on to the body of
the text
- Skim over the text and let your eye follow any bold or
highlighted words
- Learn how to read words quickly by recognizing letters
as sounds and as whole words.
- Increase your vocabulary
- Learn word origins
Concentrate on one part at a time and start practicing your
reading and comprehension skills. The more you practice, the
better you will become at it. Speed reading is not a difficult
task and many of us do it on occasion naturally when reading
something we do not find as important. However, we tend to
slow down when it has to do with work or something we have
a great interest in. Next time, though, try skimming through
it, hitting the highlights. Go back and re read it more carefully.
Did you actually miss anything? Keep doing drills to practice
your speed reading and you will find that the more you do
it, the easier it becomes.
For more information about speed
reading techniques, click here » |
