Developing Reading software - help needed

[techmale]

Hi,

Background:
I used to be massively dyslexic.
About 10 years ago I learnt to mediate and then to speed read. These 2 combined almost completely sorted all my difficulties out.
About 3 years ago, I wrote a piece of software that lets me speed read on my computer. I now publish the software (as shareware) as all my friends promised to lynch me unless I let other people benefit from it.
eg: my old flatemate who can now read at 600 words per minute, used to read at 90 wpm.

if you are interested in the science, then please visit my (URL removed by moderator) page. I have put all the knowledge I have gathered, and everything I have created myself here. Although it is aimed at anyone, the principals apply equally to everyone, ie: Dyslexia (me), ADHD, ADD etc.

The problem:
Some of the users of my software have ADHD. They have all reported that they love the way the software helps them concentrate and increases their reading speed.
However, they have all suggested that it would help if the colours of the text display could be changed while they read, as this would help them to keep their concentration.

My Question:
I am trying to find the best colours changes during reading for ADHD/ADD users, but I have no-one to ask at the moment.
So, does anyone know, can anyone please suggest a effective sequence of colour changes that would help you to hold your focus when you are reading on the screen.

(Section removed by moderator)

[Boots]

Good question but I don't really understand it? You mean what color sequence? Or what colors to avoid? Or for instance what colors mean what?

I have definate color sensitivity, but I'm not sure they are the same for everybody. Maybe you could write something in like a little questionaire so user could set own colors or even better a little test they do at the beginning and continue throughout?

I think it's also possible that color preferences might change with the type of thought process undertaken.

Any way I'll tell you mine later but first I want to check out the link to your software!

It sounds like a great idea and could potentially help alot of people.


boots

by the way nice green arrow!

[techmale]

The software can display text in (almost) any font / size and color combinations (foreground and background). Although all of these are chosen before reading and stay the same through out.

I have found both through research and practice, that yellow text on a blue background seems to be the most effective color choice for both focusing and concentration.

The suggestion made to me; was to have some kind of changing colors while you are reading, either foreground or background or both, as this would help ADHD users to hold their concentration while reading.

What I need to find out is:
Does the software only need to change the foreground color?
Does the software only need to change the background color?
Does the software need to change both foreground and background colors?
What colors are good / bad?
How often should the colors change?

Any help/hints would be greatly appreciated.

I hope you like the software.
If you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

[chloe516]

Interesting idea! I'm a reading specialist and here are my thoughts.

As far as the colors are concerned, those would change with preference, just as people with Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome all respond differently to the colors, people in general would prefer different colors. I, personally, have a hard time with yellow on blue, unless they are both pastels.

Soothing colors that are not distraction would probably be best, but again, the colors may change depending on preference.

I, personally, would find it more distracting to have the colors changing as I read, but the tracking support would certainly be beneficial for many people.

What is your definition of speed reading?

There is a thin line between reading at an appropriate rate and speed reading. Helping people to read faster so they read at an appropriate rate is wonderful! Speed reading is generally inappropriate.

While speed reading, or skimming, certainly has its purposes, speed reading decreases comprehension because it is extremely difficult to monitor meaning while speed reading. Most people are also unable to recall most of what they read while speed reading. Speed reading is not appropriate for most purposes.

I used to speed read and never remembered what I was reading and I didn't understand the more complex things I read either. Now, read at an appropriate rate (not always easy) and I use the comprehension strategies and that helps me recall information and understand more when I read.

I tell my students "Good readers don't read fast, they read so they can think about and understand the text."

Reading in context is another way to help support people with Dyslexia.

[*~ §EEK ~*]

Originally Posted by chloe516

Reading in context is another way to help support people with Dyslexia.

What does reading in context mean Chloe??

BTW, I have dyslexia and to this day I have no idea what they even did when I was an 11 y/o to help improve my reading! I wish I could remember, but I no longer remember a single thing! Nada, Zip, barely a fragment! The only thing I do remember is the trip in the car (A 2-hour drive) to the dyslexia clinic. That was the worst part.

[chloe516]

Reading in context is when you rely upon knowing the topic and the words around what you are trying to figure out; using context clues. A lot of times, it's just for a word, but can be for a subject matter. Like if you know a lot about WWII, it would be easier to read another book about that because you already have the background knowledge to help. If you don't know much about WWII, then reading a book about it would be difficult because you don't have as much context to go by and help you understand.

Simple example: read vs. read

Will you read that book tonight?

Have you read Great Expectations?

You figure out whether the word is pronounced reed or red by using the context of the sentence to help.

[*~ §EEK ~*]

Kewl !!!
Thanks Chloe!

BTW, let me know when you have an opening available for tutoring! hehe

[chloe516]

hehehe, Will do!

[techmale]

Chloe

My appologies for the delay in getting back to you.

Originally Posted by chloe516

As far as the colors are concerned, those would change with preference, just as people with Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome all respond differently to the colors, people in general would prefer different colors. I, personally, have a hard time with yellow on blue, unless they are both pastels.

My software allows almost any choice of color for both text and background.
As I am dyslexic, I need help trying to find good color combinations for ADD/ADHD, that was the point of my question.

[ link to image of visual response spectrum]
[http://homepage.mac.com/dtrapp/physics.f/Fig1.JPG]

As for yellow and blue...
If you examine the visual cone color spectrum, you will notice that yellow is the only color picked up by both rods and two types of cones. This provides duplicate signals to the visual cortex.
Blue is detected by the 3rd cone type. But skyblue is the color we are most trained to ignore, due to it being constantly present in our lives.
This color combination works best for almost every user we have tested.
If you have any suggestions for alternatives, I would love to hear them.

The problem with the standard black and white is that white activates rods and the black is simply a lack of information to visual cortex in that location. This means the words must be visualised by an inverse process in the cortex. This makes reading 'black and white' slower.

Originally Posted by chloe516

I, personally, would find it more distracting to have the colors changing as I read, but the tracking support would certainly be beneficial for many people.

The suggestion for changing colors came from ADHD users of my software. Personally I would find it distracting too, but I am trying to discover if other ADHD readers would find it to be a benefit.

Originally Posted by chloe516

What is your definition of speed reading?

Speed reading is a horrible phrase with many associated thoughts, such as 'snake oil' and scam. But it is the only recognised phrase for reading faster. To me reading is reading at any speed. Just like we have walking and running, the faster movement is simply a different technique of locomotion. Faster reading is simply a question of learning new techniques and removing any problems that keep reading slow.

The problem as I see it is that very few people are ever even taught that such techniques exist. The most simple example being the use of a pointer, which will instantly increase you reading speed as it changes the vision from saccadic jumps, from word to word, to smooth pursuit motion tracking.

Originally Posted by chloe516

There is a thin line between reading at an appropriate rate and speed reading. Helping people to read faster so they read at an appropriate rate is wonderful! Speed reading is generally inappropriate.

Speed Reading = Reading faster, in my mind.
If you read too fast then you are simply skimming.
It depends on your definition of speed reading.

Originally Posted by chloe516

While speed reading, or skimming, certainly has its purposes, speed reading decreases comprehension because it is extremely difficult to monitor meaning while speed reading. Most people are also unable to recall most of what they read while speed reading. Speed reading is not appropriate for most purposes.

I used to speed read and never remembered what I was reading and I didn't understand the more complex things I read either. Now, read at an appropriate rate (not always easy) and I use the comprehension strategies and that helps me recall information and understand more when I read.

Reading at real speed is an information absorbtion method.
If you try to understand and think about what you are reading while reading at high speed you will 'crash'.

Reading at much higher speeds takes a great deal of both physical and mental training, with most emphasis on the mental. In a way this is similar to the training we undergo to learn the techniques of reading originally. I trained to do this 10 years ago and taught it for a while. When done right, 'speed reading' is a very powerful technique, unfortunately it is mostly done wrongly, thus the bad PR associated with speed reading.
Memory recall is the same. A proper understanding and the correct techniques that work with your brain, can massively aid recall.

Originally Posted by chloe516

I tell my students "Good readers don't read fast, they read so they can think about and understand the text."

I think we agree/disagree slightly here.
Reading is a transfer of information from the page to the reader.
To me, Good (Speed) Readers have a mutlitude of techniques available for use at the appropriate time.

Slower when it is neccessary or wanted.
Fast when fast is useful.
Very fast (even skimming) when it is appropriate.

Originally Posted by chloe516

Reading in context is another way to help support people with Dyslexia.

As there are something like 35 symptoms of Dyslexia, and you only need to have a few to be classified dyslexic, I find it hard to generalise for all of them. Context Reading is a very good method for some, more advanced techniques are the solution for others.

I realise I am being somewhat aggressive in my defense of 'speed reading' and I am totally aware of the terrible reputation it has. However modern advanced reading mechanics is based on science and is a far cry from the 'speed reading' of old.

As a side note: I have tried with my software (ReallyEasyReader) to externalise many of the modern techniques and the science of 'Advanced Reading Mechanics'. There are other techniques, but I am going slowly to ensure that the ones in use work.

Hence my desire for feedback from suffers of ADHD.

[dormammau2008]

35 symtoms have you a site were i can look on this hows your styum work then .....dorm????????????

[~boots~]

Originally Posted by dormammau2008

35 symtoms have you a site were i can look on this hows your styum work then .....dorm????????????

probably lemme go look

[chloe516]

Techmale,

I was asking you your definition of speed reading because I know there is a difference between reading at an appropriate rate and reading too fast. And also, the appropriate rate is different depenent upon what is being read.

I was posting my reply while thinking you were, in fact, referring to "speed reading." As I said, helping people to read at an appropriate rate to ensure comprehension is a wonderful thing! I was trying to understand your idea of speed reading and say why I worried about the term "speed reading."

I too have an easier time when not reading with the black on white contrast, so I do understand the colors. I was trying to answer your question about color by saying that, for myself, yellow on blue is difficult to read.

Also, I did mention that I know the tracking through color changes would help some people, I was just saying it would not help me and I would find it distracting.

From your reply, I do not see us as differing much in the way of "good readers do not read fast, they read to understand." I mean this as "Don't read so fast you can't think about what you're reading!" Reading too slow interferes with meaning as well.

I know all about reading techniques. As I stated, I am a reading specialist.

I was trying to understand your product and to make sure you knew where I disagreed with your product. I had looked at your website before posting and it seemed to me that you advocating for the "speed reading of old." From your reply, it sounds like it may have been a misunderstanding.

You asked for feedback, and I did give you the feedback of a reading specialist with ADHD, a very qualified person in regards of the product from the perspective of someone with ADHD and someone who is knowledgeable in the field of reading. It was not my desire to offend, simply explain and understand.