The JavaScript Speed Reader is a self-contained, single-file, easy-to-use speed reading program for use in HTML5 capable desktop browsers.
There is so much information that we must read each day, and the "to read" pile just keeps growing. And yet, our time is precious and valuable. The JavaScript Speed Reader is here to help!
For a video introduction to the JavaScript Speed Reader, click here.
To try the JavaScript Speed Reader, click here: http://bit.ly/jsreader.
- Up and down arrows display words faster or slower.
- Right and left arrows skip back or skip ahead in the text.
- Spacebar pauses.
- Escape stops.
- Uncheck
Display multiple wordsif you find it a bit difficult to keep up.
You're now ready to read faster than ever before.
Each time we move our eyes as we read, we have to search for the best place to look at each word to help our mind recognize the word we're reading. That takes time. The JavaScript Speed Reader calculates the best reading location to recognize each word or phrase, and makes each word's best reading location appear in the same place every time. Now your eyes don't have to search around. You understand words faster, and you can read more in less time while still maintaining high comprehension of what you read.
The JavaScript Speed Reader was designed to be easy to use. Simply drag and drop the speedreader.html file onto your web browser to start the program. If you use the JavaScript Speed Reader often, you can add the JavaScript Speed Reader as a bookmark in your browser for fast and easy access.
To read an article or book, copy the text into the text box, adjust the Speed (in words-per-minute) if desired, and click Play (►).
The controls for the JavaScript Speed Reader are simple and intuitive:
| Button | Description | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| ◄◄ | Searches back for the beginning of the sentence. | Left arrow |
| ► / ■ | Starts or stops a speed reading session. | Shortcut for stop: Esc |
| ▌▐ | Pauses and resumes the speed reading session | Spacebar |
| ►► | Searches forward for the beginning of the next paragraph. | Right arrow |
| ▼ | Reduces the reading speed. | Down arrow |
| ▲ | Increases the reading speed. | Up arrow |
Use the check boxes to customize your reading experience:
| Check box | Description |
|---|---|
| Hide text box when reading | Hate clutter? Check this check box for less clutter on the screen. Want context? Uncheck the check box to see the current word or phrase highlighted in context while reading. |
| Also hide buttons | Really hate clutter? Check to unclutter the screen even more. Uncheck to have the buttons available while reading. |
| Display multiple words | Want to read really fast? Check to read up to two words at a time. Uncheck to read only one word at a time (which is a bit easier on the eyes). |
Jumping into a new development project is never easy, but the JavaScript Speed Reader code was written to be easy to understand and is fully commented and documented. The detailed developer documentation is available in the DEVELOPER.md file.
| File | Description |
|---|---|
| jsreader.html | The JavaScript Speed Reader program itself. This is the only file you need to use the program. |
| README.md | The documentation for using the JavaScript Speed Reader program. |
| changelog.md | The list of changes by version. |
| DEVELOPER.md | The developer documentation to help developers get up to speed quickly on the source code. |
This program was inspired by videos released by Spritz Inc of their excellent speed reading system.