The History of Speed Reading: How Did it Originate?

Speed reading techniques began many years ago, mostly with the assistance of various machines that were used to increase the amount of images seen by the individual. Use of these machines was a popular trend in the 1940's, yet it was only later on that methods were discovered which had lasting effects on speed reading improvement.

The first machine used to increase the rate of reading was called the tachistoscope. At varying rates, this machine would flash images shown on a screen. After a little practice, the person using the machine, would start watching the images in a smaller size and at a faster flashing rate. Persons were able to see these minute images even though they were only flashed on the screen for one-five-hundredth of a second.

The tachistoscope was then used to flash words instead of images. It was discovered that a person could read a set of four words that was flashed on the screen. Speed Reading courses were then developed making use of the tachistoscope in hopes of increasing speed from the normal 200 wpm to 400 wpm. While the courses did show an increased reading rate, the results were only applicable when the machine was used. When returning to normal methods, the person's speed would remain the same.

A film-aided course was developed after the tachistoscope with the purpose of widening the reader's field of focus to test whether this would increase reading speed. Even though it was determined that a person's reading rate could be increased by 100%, none of the methods devised had been able to maintain lasting results.

Evelyn Wood was the first person to establish actual methods that would increase reading speed time and time again. She discovered speed reading from one of her professors who read and graded her 80 page term paper in less than 10 minutes. Mrs. Wood questioned her professor, but he was unable to say why he could read at this speed. She then started research to see if other people could do this and she found about 50 people ranging from teenagers to an eighty year old. When observing their reading styles, Mrs. Wood found that they read large groups of words at one time. Words were seen in meaningful patterns while their eyes moved quickly and smoothly over the page.

Evelyn Wood then began to teach herself to speed read. Eventually she was able to read a couple thousand words per minute. She had also established methods that other people could use. She discovered that movements of the hand could force the eyes to move faster and therefore read faster. The hand was used as a pacer and she called it the 'Wood Method'. The first reading institute was opened in Washington DC in 1959.

Nowadays, various speed reading techniques have been well established with guides to teach speed reading step by step. It is now known that anybody can learn to speed read, not only a couple of people with the natural talent. With a little guidance and practice, you too could become a master speed reader.