./Flash Read
● ActiveAn RSVP speed reader with Spritz-style optimal recognition point algorithm, Project Gutenberg integration, chapter navigation, gesture controls, and a library with reading progress — all as a PWA.
about this project
Flash Read is a Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) speed reader that flashes words one at a time at the eye's natural fixation point, letting you read full books at 250–1000+ WPM without moving your eyes.
The core engine implements the Spritz ORP (Optimal Recognition Point) algorithm with research-backed timing modifiers: sentence-ending punctuation triggers a ×2.5 pause, clause breaks get ×1.5, paragraph boundaries get ×3.0, and long words get extra dwell time — all calibrated from Schotter, Rayner & Potter (2016) comprehension findings.
Features a built-in library with persistent reading progress tracked in IndexedDB, a Project Gutenberg browser for loading public-domain books directly (proxied through a Cloudflare Worker), automatic chapter detection and navigation, a context panel showing surrounding text, swipe gesture controls, multiple reading themes and font choices, and adjustable font sizes. Tokenization runs in a Web Worker to keep the UI responsive on large texts.
What makes this interesting: it takes a well-studied speed reading technique and builds a complete, polished reading app around it — with the kind of details that matter for actual use: progress saving, chapter scrubbing, smart pauses, and one-thumb mobile ergonomics.