First there were words chipped into stone tablets, then came the bamboo scrolls with inked words, then came the printing press, then mass produced paperback books, then ereaders....and now we have a reading app?? The world of reading has experienced huge changes since the written language was developed. And now, there's a new app called Spritz that apparently helps readers, uh, read.
And so, here is the inevitable question: why do we need an app that helps us read? The answer: Spritz helps readers read faster. Like, by a lot. The average reader reads a bit over 200 words per minute. Seasoned Spritz users can read from 500-1000 words per minute.
Spritz flashes words at readers (1-13 words, depending on screen size). So basically, words have
"sweet spots", or the spots where your eyes have to see in order to recognize the word for the word it is. By positioning words in its optimal position, Spritz directs reader attention straight to the sweet spot.
So, the pros and cons?
Pros:
*faster reading speed
*can function on devices with small screens (like ipods, smart watches, Google glasses)
*only cost $4.99
Cons:
*sure, you may read faster...but are you actually absorbing the information?
*how are you suppose to savor the words/plot of the story you are reading if you're just trying to plow through the pages asap...somethings are just meant to be read slowly (like poetry)
Bottom line? I think Spritz may have a future in small screened electronics, but I honestly don't think that the app will ever be used to read books. Personally, I think readers will mostly use Spritz to quickly glance over an interesting article or email. The only time I can see Spritz being used to read books (probably on the iPad once the app becomes available to Apple products) is if you're a student trying to cram in 3 night's worth of reading into 1 hour :-P
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