Tips to read faster from the computer screen

Many of us work with a computer all day and it is common for you to read much more text on a computer screen than on paper. Can you apply speed reading techniques to read from the computer? Yes, you can, as speed reading techniques are generally applicable for both reading from a computer and reading a book. However, there are some differences, and if you are reading from a computer screen you will benefit from following the tips below.

In the case of reading from the computer, then you can have the advantage of processing the text and making it easier to read. It means that you can change the way the text is displayed on the screen. The first thing to look for is to wrap the text so that there are two columns on a page. When the text is divided into two narrow columns, you can read it faster compared to ordinary text with a single wide column. So, when possible, convert the text to a two-column format.

You could then make changes to the font and its size. Many texts, especially MS Word documents, are written in the Times New Roman font, but this is not the best for quick reading. Test results have shown that texts in Arial font can be read faster. Therefore, if possible, change the text to Arial font.

A typical 12 point text is not the best solution for quick reading. If your near vision is normal, you will benefit from decreasing the font size, since your field of vision will cover more of the text that way. Still, you should avoid making the font size too small, because if you read it, your eyes will get tired after a while and this will slow down your reading speed. 9pt Arial is the best font for quick reading from the computer screen.

How far away you sit from the computer also matters. If you’re reading from the computer, your eyes should be slightly further from the text than they would be when reading from paper. It must be 50 cm (20 inches) or more. In any case, you have to feel comfortable reading from that distance. If you want to read faster, you should read text from a greater distance than a shorter distance to have more text in your field of view.

Proper light conditions are also important. If you are reading from the computer screen, then there should be enough backlight in your room. If you’re sitting behind your computer in a dark room, then there’s a lot of contrast between the screen and the background, which will quickly tire your eyes and slow down your reading speed. Also, you should avoid direct sunlight on your computer screen as it will make it difficult to read.

You can use the cursor to keep track while reading from the computer screen. Place it on the left edge of the text. Start reading and move the cursor down vertically so that it always points to the line you are reading. Doing this will make it easier to keep track of, and moving the cursor at a smooth, steady pace will allow you to keep up a good reading pace.

The bad thing about reading from the computer is that you have to scroll through the text, which wastes time and distracts your attention. To reduce the need to scroll, use full screen mode when reading documents. Getting a larger monitor will decrease the amount of scrolling you have to do. Since continuous scrolling would make it difficult for your eyes to find the correct line, you should scroll the text in large chunks. As you scroll, follow the text with your eyes to make sure you don’t get lost in the text and can resume reading without wasting a lot of time. Developing a good scrolling rhythm will help you maintain your reading speed.