Scientific research

UpRead has been entirely based on robust scientific literature.

The approach we use, RSVP (Rapid Serial Visual Presentation), has been studied since the ’50s. It is still researched as its applications with smartphones and wereables are very promising.

In the area of speed reading, research is limited but shows promising results: users after a short practice period can get substantial benefits both in focus and in reading speed. Comprehension seems not to be affected.

We are already aware of some limitations on the approach and we’re already exploring ways to overcome them. For example, handling of diagrams and images is not straightforward and content containing lots of data or references may not be a good fit for this technique.

If you want to provide us feedback on your reading experience with UpRead or with other solutions, please get in touch: we’re eager to improve the app.

Here’s a list of the main scientific papers we used for UpRead. A psychologist has been in charge of researching the literature and supported the development of the app. 

  1. Akyürek, E. G., & Hommel, B. (2006). Memory operations in rapid serial visual presentation. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 18(4), 520-536.
  2. Angele, B., & Rayner, K. (2013). Processing the in the parafovea: are articles skipped automatically? Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition, 39, 649–662.
  3. Balota, D. A. (2016). Speed reading: you can’t always get what you want, but can you sometimes get what you need? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 17, 1-3.
  4. Castelhano, M. S., & Muter, P. (2001). Optimizing the reading of electronic text using rapid serial visual presentation, Behaviour and Information Technology, 20, 237-247.
  5. Chen, H. C. (1986). Effects of reading span and textual coherence on rapid-sequential reading. Memory & Cognition, 14(3), 202-208.
  6. Crutch, S. J., Lehmann, M., Schott, J. M., Rabinovici, G. D., Rossor, M. N., Fox, N. C. (2012). Posterior cortical atrophy. Lancet Neurology, 11(2), 170-178.
  7. Forster, K. I. (1970). Visual perception of rapidly presented word sequences of varying complexity. Perception & Psychophysics, 8(4), 215-221.
  8. Gannon, E., He, J., Gao, X., & Chaparro, B. (2016). RSVP Reading on a smart watch. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2016 Annual Meeting, 1130-1134.
  9. Gilbert, L. C. (1959). Speed of processing visual stimuli and its relation to reading. Journal of Educational Psychology, 50(1), 8-14.
  10. Lewis-Åkerman, E. (2017). Rapid Serial Visual Presentation: a qualitative study. Bachelor’s thesis. Technology and Society Computer Science. Malmo University.
  11. Masson, M. E. J. (1983). Conceptual processing of text during skimming and rapid sequential reading. Memory & Cognition, 11(3), 262-274.
  12. Potter, M. C. (1984). Rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP): a method for studying language processing. In Kieras, D., & Just, M. (Eds.), New methods in reading comprehension research (pp. 91-118). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
  13. Primativo, S., Spinelli, D., Zoccolotti, P., De Luca, M., & Martelli, M. (2016). Perceptual and cognitive factors imposing “speed limits” on reading rate: a study with the rapid serial visual presentation. PLoS One, 11(4).
  14. Rayner, K., Schotter, E., Masson, M. E., Potter, M., & Treiman, R. (2016). So much to read, so little time: How do we read, and can speed reading help? Psychological science, 17(1), 4-34.
  15. Schotter, E. R., Angele, B., & Rayner, K. (2012). Parafoveal processing in reading. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 74, 5-35.
  16. Schotter, E. R., Tran, R., & Rayner, K. (2014). Don’t believe what you read (only once): comprehension is supported by regressions during reading. Psychological Science, 25, 1218-1226.
  17. Williamson, N. L., Muter, P., & Kruk, R. S. (1986). Computerized presentation of text for the visually handicapped. Advances in Psychology, 34, 115-125.
  18. Yong, K. X., Rajdev, K., Shakespeare, T. J., Leff, A. P., & Crutch, S. J. (2015). Facilitating text reading in posterior cortical atrophy. Neurology, 85(4), 339-348.

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