People of all age groups enjoy book reading. However, even the most interesting non-fiction book may spend it its life unread on the shelf due to common issues such as lack of pace, fixed eye contact and subvocalization.
There’s good speed reading software available, which may help tackle these challenges. In this post, we review a popular tutor named The Reader’s Edge®, developed by Richard Sutz, The Literacy Company.
Reader’s Edge – Overview
The Reader’s Edge offers guided training to develop and improve your pace and comprehension by training your eyes and eliminating subvocalization.
If you are generally interested in this type of tools you may also compare suitable alternatives (see link above) or read our reviews of 7-Speed-Reading and Iris Reading.
Learning Goals of Reader’s Edge
The main objective of The Reader’s Edge is to improve and increase the speed of your reading and make you a motivated, strategic and independent reader.
It helps to apply different learning strategies and continuously monitors your progress using various exercises. The latter include mobility training, recognition tests, vertical and horizontal span exercises and word chunking tests.
Reader’s Edge comes in a Basic and Pro version, some features are only included in the more advanced edition. Though the main goal remains the same, features such as Audio or Timed Reading Practice, High-Speed Practice or advanced content features and RSS news feed implementation ship with Edge Pro only.
Key Components
- Goal setting
- Peer support
- Use of meta-cognitive strategies
- Co-operative learning
- Frequent assessment using exercises
The Reader’s Edge – Program Highlights
- Unique training strategy and personalized learning to suit needs.
- Reader’s Edge covers needs of both adults and children of ages 5 and up.
- Available in versions for Windows and Mac
- Training can be customized for each user based on their needs.
- Tracks progress and automatically increases the level of difficulty in training.
- Focuses on expanding peripheral vision of the user.
- Trains you to read groups of words.
- Includes Prime-word-list exercises.
- Control flash speed, number of characters, phrases or words individually.
- 30 day money back guarantee
1. Step-by-Step Training
The Reader’s Edge is a highly rated literacy improvement program as it offers noticeable and desired results for readers who want to become effective and speed readers.
It starts training by evaluating your current ability by taking pace and comprehension tests. In the beginning, you may be little confused about what the tool offers due to the many tools available. However, once you start with the training, Reader’s Edge is very user-friendly and easy to navigate.
Training modules provided help you to progress immediately. All you need is 15 minutes a day to practice. Using this tutor just for 15 minutes alternate days for a few weeks can improve your pace and retention to a noticeable extent.
2. Product Versions of Reader’s Edge
Basic Version on Windows ($79.95)
- Installed on One computer
- 8 types of exercises that include both reading and comprehension exercises
- Three users can be tracked
Pro Version on Windows ($149.95)
- Installation can be on 2 computers
- 12 types of exercises including same exercises as above
- Can track unlimited users for single installation
- Audio Text Readings
- Access to 100+ Additional Tests
- Access to 500+ Additional Selections
Web Version for Windows and Mac
- Web based login to access the account from anywhere.
- 8 types of comprehension exercises
- One user can be tracked for each account.
Online Edition for all platforms
Without repeating the features above, the Reader’s Edge is available as a cloud-based version. Pricing remains similar, however, the number of users varies a bit. With the family version you will get five user accounts. The single subscription is meant to serve one student.
One advantage of the online tool is that you may benefit from updates faster, and you have the tool accessible on other machines too. However, looking back, there have not been a lot of upgrades to the core product recently.
3. Benefits of The Reader’s Edge
- Less efficient readers can see and read only one word at a time as eyes stop on each word. They consume more time to read a few pages as re-read words and subliminally vocalize each word read. This kind of reading may limit the average pace to 160-220 words per minute which means the rate at which we speak.
- The Reader’s Edge helps in improving pace by making you see and read the words groups rather than each word.
- Eye training offered by the program will enable to move your eyes swiftly on the words discouraging you from re-reading the words.
- Make your brain capable of handling several hundreds of words each minute.
- Help you to derive the meaning of new words improving your comprehension skills.
- Improves productivity, effectiveness and enhances book reading enjoyment by enabling you to customize your goals.
- Discourages you from pondering over each word to increase comprehension and encourages processing words in groups by improving concentration.
Reader’s Edge – Pros and Cons
The Pros
The Readers Edge contains several components to train readers and a good level of confidence. It has 200+ comprehension tests, eight techniques to improve the speed and access to 300 eBooks.
Customer support. There’s a great choice of customer service options. Apart from FAQs and an update section you can contact them by email, phone or fill in a contact form to ask questions.
Downsides
Reader’s Edge has too many tools, confusing readers at the beginning of the training. Limiting the number of accounts in the basic version just to three users on three computers is another con.
Another downside might be splitting into a Basic and Pro version. The Pro version offers interesting advanced features, but a great part of them can be found in products from other developers at a lower price.
Reader’s Edge Review – The Verdict
On the whole, The Reader’s Edge offers guided training to increase the pace to make book reading more enjoyable with customizable and easy to use training modules. The tutor can be used in schools, for group learning or by people of all ages to inculcate fast reading. There are also free updates for life.
Price for the Basic Version is $79.95; Pro Edition costs $149.95.
Popular solutions on the market such as 7-Speed-Reading or Rev it Up Reading may offer a strong alternative in terms of features, video tutorials, price and easiness of use. This specifically applies when comparing the basic version with other products on the market. Reader’s Edge rather sits on the pricier end when you put it next to other tutors.
Screenshots
Image Credits: http://www.readfaster.com/screenshots.asp
If you have used the Reader’s Edge, please leave a comment below to share your opinion.
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