Title: Speed reading using Spritz has a cost: limits when reading a short text

Authors: Orlando Ricciardi; Gabriele Calvani; Francisco Palmero; James F. Juola; Francesco Di Nocera

Addresses: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78 – 00185 Rome, Italy ' Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78 – 00185 Rome, Italy ' Department of Basic Psychology, Clinical and Psychobiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitat Jaume I, 12071 Castellón de la Plana, Castellón, Spain ' Department of Psychology, Autonomous University of Madrid Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain ' Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Via dei Marsi 78 – 00185 Rome, Italy

Abstract: Rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) can be used to present text one or a few words at a time to a central position on a display. Recent studies using Spritz, a recent application of RSVP, seem to indicate a speed-comprehension trade-off beginning at about a 250 word per minute (wpm) rate when reading a text for more than five minutes. The objective of the present experimental study is to compare inferential comprehension when subjects read in a traditional way or using Spritz at different nominal frequency rates (250, 350, and 450 wpm). Results confirm a comprehension difficulty even in a very short text when the presentation rate exceeds 250 wpm. This result should be considered as a guideline to set the optimal presentation rate when reading a short text on a personal device (such as a smartphone or smartwatch) using Spritz.

Keywords: reading; rapid serial visual presentation; RSVP; comprehension; workload; Spritz.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFE.2020.109594

International Journal of Human Factors and Ergonomics, 2020 Vol.7 No.2, pp.161 - 173

Received: 03 Nov 2019
Accepted: 17 Feb 2020
Published online: 15 Sep 2020 *

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