Spritzing. It is not the practise of drinking wine based cocktails, but rather what you might be doing instead of reading from now on. An American based software developer (Spritz) has developed a ‘speed reader app’, which promises to get us reading more quickly- potentially devouring a novel in less than 90 minutes.

The developers say that when we are reading “the eye seeks a certain point within the word, which we call the optimal recognition point, or ORP. After your eyes find the ORP, your brain starts to process the meaning of the word that you’re viewing”. Your eyes then move to find the next ORP. The Spritz app lines up text with the ORP at the point where you’re already looking, so you can read without moving your eyes. See below.

It somehow sounds more complicated and energetic than relaxing, although its creators assure you that “the more you relax the faster you will go, and the more you will understand and remember”. It’s going to be interesting to see how the world receives Spritzing. To me, there’s a time and a place for it. I’d guess it’s very useful for a student with a deadline looming but I can’t really see myself sitting down for a cup of tea and a spritz. Ultimately though, it might mean more books in a day, a month, a year, and as Dr. Seuss said…

What do you think? Read more about spritzing, and test it out here.

By Kathryn, Publishing Assistant.