The complementary use of speed reading with text skimming and photoreading

Speed reading, text skimming and photoreading are quick ways of scrolling text. In two previous posts we have clarified the differences between fast reading and texts skimming HERE and between fast reading and photoreading HERE. The main difference between fast reading and the other two methods is the way the text is scrolled. In case of fast reading the texts are read in full. In the case of scanning and photoreading the texts are read truncated, incompletely.​

Hence, their main drawback is that understanding of the text so far is affected more or less, depending on how much information has been omitted.

However, the three methods can be used additionally. Read on to see how!

When reading a text you usually do it for two main reasons: whether you want to see what the text contains in order to decide whether or not you want to read it in full, whether you have already decided it and you are ready to read it in full . These two reasons are the ones that lead you to the appropriate reading methods of that text.

If you want to decide whether to read or not a short text, article, review, novel, etc. which does not have much to say 30 pages, you will usually use the "scan" of that text. This involves fast scrolling of that text either diagonally, by skipping words, or just the meaningful words. There are many skimming methods that can be used. The result of this review is that you form an overall view of the content of the text. Based on this information, you can then decide whether or not you want to read that text entirely. Of course, sometimes you can say goodbye if you have gone through at least 40-50% of the text. The question here is to what extent does the understanding of that text read only partially satisfy the need to assimilate the information contained therein?

If you want to read or not a longer text, book, course, novel, etc. you'll be using a technique that is closer to photoreading. That is, you will take the book in your hand, you will read something about content such as a short preface or introduction, perhaps about the author or the book's contents, then you will browse it and read some random passages and you will make a first impression on the text. As a result of this review, you will most likely be able to decide whether you want to read this book entirely or not. Further, if you prefer to use photoreading, then you will browse the book in full, you will "photograph" each page and then you will proceed to the mental rebuilding of the content, starting from the information obtained and using imagination. And here the question is whether the degree of reconstruction of the original information, which probably does not exceed 30-40%, and which can seriously affect the understanding of the text, satisfies the need to assimilate the information contained therein?

If you've decided to read a text in full, speed reading is an option if you've already gone through a program to learn this useful skill. SpeeRead offers such training programs. Otherwise you will use the usual reading, which you already own. The difference is just the reading speed of the text, regardless of its length. Fast reading requires integral reading of any text. Although it seems paradoxical if you have not gone through a training program, fast reading is done without extra effort and the ability to understand and memorize text is improved.

INTEGRAL READING IS THE KEY POINT AND THE MAIN ADVANTAGE OF SPEED READING!

By usual reading the capacity for understanding and memorizing is 60-70%. If you use fast reading your memory capacity and understanding rises to 70-85%.

In addition to enhanced understanding, the scroll time can be shortened considerably by using fast reading!

The doubling of reading speed is perfectly possible with a 24 or 30 day  training program.  That means you will read any text twice as fast as it is today. But to achieve these performances you need this systematic and intensive learning process because your eyes have some muscles that need to be trained. Skimming and photoreading do not require this training because time is gained by incomplete scrolling of texts at the risk of their poor understanding. You find HERE a description of how to optimize memory processes by fast reading. There are other benefits to using fast reading that you can read HERE. One of them is related to the optimization of learning processes. Details HERE.

In addition to these direct benefits, learning and systematic use of fast reading also optimizes the skimming or photoreading processes you use. Eye training also shortens the time allocated to these procedures, which you will apply faster and more efficiently. More efficiently also because by developing your ability to understand, you will quickly detect and associate keywords or the  "photographed" one with the general context of the text you have gone through.

In conclusion, learning and using fast reading optimizes the process and read time of any text but also improves the practice of skimming and photoreading techniques.

BUT THE CONCLUSION IS NOT RECIPROCALLY VALID. Using only skimming or photoreading will never train you or help you read integral and rapid your texts and you will always have serious gaps in understanding and memorizing them.

What technique do you use when reading?